UK may recognize Palestine in September if Gaza war continues
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer (photo: Getty Images)
The United Kingdom will recognize Palestine in September this year if Israel does not end the war in the Gaza Strip, said UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, according to The Guardian.
Starmer stated that the final decision on recognizing the Palestinian state will be confirmed in September, and no party will have the right to veto.
"UK will recognize the state of Palestine by the United Nations General Assembly in September, unless the Israeli government takes substantive steps to end the appalling situation in Gaza, agree to a ceasefire and commit to a long-term sustainable peace, reviving the prospect of a two-state solution, and this includes allowing the UN to restart the supply of aid and making clear that there will be no annexations in the West Bank," he said.
At the same time, the British Prime Minister added that the message to the terrorist group Hamas remains unchanged but firm.
"They must immediately release all of the hostages, sign up to a ceasefire, disarm and accept that they will play no part in the government of Gaza. We'll make an assessment in September on how far the parties have met these steps, but no one should have a veto over our decision. So this is the way forward," Starmer noted.
Recognition of Palestine
Palestine is a region in the Middle East, with its territory divided into two parts — the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. The West Bank is a hilly area located west of the Jordan River. The Gaza Strip is a coastal area located south of the West Bank.
Palestine is an independent and partially recognized state. Its independence has been recognized by 139 out of 193 United Nations member states.
French President Emmanuel Macron recently stated that France would recognize Palestine as a state this September at the UN General Assembly.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu harshly criticized Paris's intentions.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio also condemned such plans.
According to media reports, the British government and Macron are allegedly pressuring UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer to also recognize Palestinian independence.
One British minister stated that the government plans to recognize the State of Palestine but did not name specific dates.
