The United Kingdom will conditionally recognize Palestine as a state next September, ahead of the United Nations General Assembly, according to British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who spoke to journalists after an emergency cabinet meeting on the situation in Gaza.
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According to what was agreed in writing during the cabinet meeting, Britain will recognize Palestine as a state “unless the Israeli government takes substantive measures to end the dire situation in Gaza, reaches a ceasefire, makes clear that there will be no annexation in the West Bank, and commits to a long-term peace process that will lead to a two-state solution.”
Keir Starmer also reiterated that “there is no equivalence between Israel and Hamas” and that the United Kingdom’s demands toward Hamas remain: Release all hostages, sign a ceasefire, accept that it will play no role in Gaza’s governance, and disarm.
Additionally, Starmer committed to conducting an assessment before the UN General Assembly regarding whether both sides have followed the above steps, before making a final decision. The British Prime Minister even pledged that he will ensure neither side has veto power.
