UK says it will recognize Palestine if Israel refuses Ceasefire: Saudi Arabia welcomes the thought

The United Kingdom’s intention to recognise Palestine as a country was revealed by Prime Minister Keir Starmer in a statement issued on Tuesday. Prime Minister Starmer said that the UK will recognise Palestine by September if Tel Aviv refuses to end the “appalling situation” in Gaza. 

Starmer’s official statement read, “I can confirm the UK will recognise 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”. 

Starmer also said that Tel Aviv must also agree to other conditions such as 

• agreeing to a ceasefire in the besieged Palestinian territory
• committing to a long-term sustainable peace that revives the prospect of the two-state solution
• allowing the United Nations to resume the supply of humanitarian aid in Gaza

Unless Israel agrees to these conditions by September, the UK will proceed with recognising Palestine at the United Nations General Assembly, added Starmer after an emergency cabinet meeting, Downing Street. 

Contradicting from the western consensus, especially from the US and EU, the UK and France’s decision to recognise Palestine as a state pushes boundaries and sets out a significant step in the ongoing war. 

Netanyahu lashed out at the UK’s statement and said, “Starmer rewards Hamas’s monstrous terrorism & punishes its victims. A jihadist state on Israel’s border TODAY will threaten Britain TOMORROW. Appeasement towards jihadist terrorists always fails. It will fail you too. It will not happen,” the Office of the PM of Israel posted on X on Wednesday.

Severe dismissal from Israel’s side opposing the decision was released as the Foreign Ministry of Israel said, “Israel rejects the statement by the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. The shift in the British government’s position at this time, following the French move and internal political pressures, constitutes a reward for Hamas and harms efforts to achieve a ceasefire in Gaza and a framework for the release of hostages”. 

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