{"id":291556,"date":"2025-07-25T21:14:10","date_gmt":"2025-07-25T21:14:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/291556\/"},"modified":"2025-07-25T21:14:10","modified_gmt":"2025-07-25T21:14:10","slug":"uks-starmer-faces-mounting-pressure-to-recognise-palestinian-state-israel-palestine-conflict-news","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/291556\/","title":{"rendered":"UK\u2019s Starmer faces mounting pressure to recognise Palestinian state | Israel-Palestine conflict News"},"content":{"rendered":"

More than 200 lawmakers in the United Kingdom have called on the British government to recognise a Palestinian state, as pressure mounts on Prime Minister Keir Starmer to take concrete action amid Israel\u2019s war on Gaza<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Some 221 MPs from across the political spectrum signed an open letter on Friday calling on Starmer\u2019s Labour government to recognise a Palestinian state in advance of a United Nations conference on Palestine next week.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are expectant that the outcome of the conference will be the UK Government outlining when and how it will act on its long-standing commitment on a two-state solution; as well as how it will work with international partners to make this a reality,\u201d the letter reads.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhilst we appreciate the UK does not have it in its power to bring about a free and independent Palestine, UK recognition would have a significant impact due to our historic connections and our membership on the UN Security Council, so we urge you to take this step.\u201d<\/p>\n

Parliamentarians from nine political parties were among the signatories, Labour MP Sarah Champion said, including Labour, the Conservatives, Liberal Democrats, SNP, and the Greens.<\/p>\n

The letter comes as public anger is growing in the UK and around the world over Israel\u2019s continued bombardment and blockade of the Gaza Strip, which has spurred a deadly starvation crisis<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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221 MPs, from 9 parties, have sent a joint letter to the Prime Minister & Foreign Secretary urging them to recognise Palestine as a state now pic.twitter.com\/b2hbX2XCGR<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Sarah Champion (@SarahChampionMP) July 25, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

It also comes a day after French President Emmanuel Macron announced<\/a> that France would recognise the State of Palestine at the UN in September.<\/p>\n

\u201cConsistent with its historic commitment to a just and lasting peace in the Middle East, I have decided that France will recognise the State of Palestine,\u201d Macron said in a social media post on Thursday.<\/p>\n

\u201cI will make this solemn announcement before the United Nations General Assembly this coming September. The urgent priority today is to end the war in Gaza and to bring relief to the civilian population.\u201d<\/p>\n

Macron\u2019s announcement drew the ire of Israeli leaders<\/a>, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who said the move \u201crewards terror\u201d.<\/p>\n

But Netanyahu has faced widespread condemnation for Israel\u2019s continuing assault on Gaza, which has killed more than 59,000 Palestinians since it began in October 2023.<\/p>\n

Israel\u2019s blockade of the enclave has caused a deepening humanitarian crisis, with the United Nations and top human rights groups reporting that many Palestinian children are now suffering from severe malnutrition and at risk of death.<\/p>\n

In a statement on Friday, Starmer said \u201cthe appalling scenes in Gaza are unrelenting\u201d.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe continued captivity of hostages, the starvation and denial of humanitarian aid to the Palestinian people, the increasing violence from extremist settler groups, and Israel\u2019s disproportionate military escalation in Gaza are all indefensible,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

But Starmer stopped short of announcing plans to recognise a Palestinian state, instead saying he was working \u201con a pathway to peace in the region\u201d.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat pathway will set out the concrete steps needed to turn the ceasefire so desperately needed, into a lasting peace,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cRecognition of a Palestinian state has to be one of those steps. I am unequivocal about that. But it must be part of a wider plan which ultimately results in a two-state solution and lasting security for Palestinians and Israelis.\u201d<\/p>\n

Reporting from a protest outside Starmer\u2019s residence in London on Friday afternoon, Al Jazeera\u2019s Milena Veselinovic said demonstrators expressed \u201coutrage\u201d at the British government\u2019s stance amid the dire situation in Gaza.<\/p>\n

\u201cMany of them feel powerless, so one of the only things they can do is gather here, make as much noise as they can, and hope that it will be noticed by the people in power,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey want Keir Starmer to do more with the power that he has, and with the influence that he has, to put an end to this.\u201d<\/p>\n

In addition to recognising a Palestinian state, the British government has faced growing calls to sanction Israel and impose an arms embargo<\/a> against the country.<\/p>\n

Veselinovic said Starmer is in \u201ca difficult diplomatic situation\u201d as he prepares to meet United States President Donald Trump<\/a>, who was travelling to Scotland on Friday.<\/p>\n

She explained that Macron\u2019s announcement added pressure on the UK, which is a close ally of both France and the US, to also recognise a Palestinian state, but noted that Trump has criticised the French president\u2019s move.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt does seem like a gulf is emerging here over what the European stance is overall, which is much more aligned with what UN aid agencies are saying is going on on the ground in Gaza, and the American position, which seems to nearly 100 percent back whatever is the Israeli government\u2019s version of events is,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd in the middle of that is Keir Starmer, who wants to maintain good relations with both sides.\u201d<\/p>\n