Keir Starmer is reportedly set to recognise a Palestinian state after Donald Trump's state visit to the UK concludes this weekend. The prime minister has previously indicated he would do so before the UN general assembly in New York later this month if Israel fails to meet conditions to improve the humanitarian situation in Gaza.
High-level UN summit meetings begin on 23 September. According to the Times, Starmer delayed the announcement until after Trump's departure to avoid it dominating a joint news conference at Chequers. The move puts him at odds with the US administration, which opposes official recognition. However, France, Australia, and Canada plan similar steps at the UN gathering.
In July, Starmer announced conditional recognition of Palestine, dependent on Israel committing to a ceasefire, a sustainable two-state solution, and allowing UN aid resupply. These conditions are unlikely to be met given Israeli opposition, as Israeli forces continue a major ground offensive in Gaza, forcing thousands to flee.
Palestine is already recognised by 147 of the UN's 193 member states. Meanwhile, London Mayor Sadiq Khan has for the first time described the situation in Gaza as a “genocide”, citing starving children, collapsed health systems, and a UN commission report that found reasonable grounds to conclude Israel is committing genocide. Israel's foreign ministry rejected the report as “distorted and false”.
