British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has announced that the United Kingdom intends to recognize the State of Palestine in September, ahead of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).
However, several conditions must be met before this recognition takes place, IndeksOnline reports.
According to a written cabinet briefing obtained earlier, Starmer stated that recognition would move forward “unless the Israeli government takes significant steps to end the horrific situation in Gaza, agrees to a ceasefire, clearly states there will be no annexation of the West Bank, and commits to a long-term peace process that delivers a two-state solution,” as reported by the BBC.
He also reiterated that there is no equivalence between Israel and Hamas, affirming the UK’s standing demands toward Hamas: to release all hostages, agree to a ceasefire, accept that they will play no role in Gaza’s future governance, and disarm completely.
Starmer pledged to conduct an assessment ahead of the UNGA session to evaluate the extent to which each side has met these conditions before making a final decision. The assessment will ensure that neither party holds veto power over the UK’s decision, the statement noted.
