The British government of Keir Starmer announces a possible recognition of the Palestinian state in September, conditioned to a ceased in Gaza. London aligns with France and Germany for a new European peace plan, while internal and international pressure on humanitarian crisis in the Middle East increase
The British government led by Keir Starmer has convened an extraordinary council of ministers to discuss a significant turning point in British foreign policy in the Middle East. If Israel does not accept the immediate fire in the Gaza Strip, London will anticipate the formal recognition of the Palestine state to September.
This decision, which represents an important change of step compared to previous British administrations, is part of a European plan coordinated with France and Germany aimed at managing the growing crisis in the region. The scenario becomes urgent in the face of the worsening of the humanitarian crisis and the increase in violence.
Council of Extraordinary Ministers and European Plan
The British government recalled the ministers in a meeting despite the summer holidays to discuss the draft of a European plan developed together with the partners of France and Germany. The aim is to put pressure on Israel to push him to accept a ceasefire in the Gaza strip and engage in a stable peace path.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer stressed that the recognition of the Palestinian state will become effective “unless the Israeli government assumes substantial measures to end the disastrous situation in the strip, sions a ceased fire, gives up an annexed annexes in the West Bank and commit themselves to a long -term peace based on the solution of the two states”.
Internal pressures and role of Parliament
Behind Starmer’s decision we read the growing pressure of a large segment of the Chamber of Municipalities: more than a third of the parliamentarians – about 225 deputies – signed a letter asking the Prime Minister to proceed with the recognition of the Palestinian state.
This internal thrust is motivated by the aggravation of the humanitarian crisis in the Gaza strip and by the perception that the traditional peace process is now blocked. Starmer, although always in favor of recognition, said that now it is “the right time” to act, trying to balance a diplomatic position that does not equate Israel in Hamas.
Humanitarian criticalities and help in Gaza
The humanitarian crisis in Gaza is at the center of the debate. Starmer described the images of hungry children as “a weight that will remain with us for life” and underlined the need for regular flows of aid by land, estimating that at least 500 trucks per day serve to avoid collapse.
At the same time, the United Kingdom began to participate in aid air launches on the Gaza Strip, in coordination with France and Germany, but reiterated that the distribution by land is essential to stabilize the situation.
The position of France and the European context
France, which announced a few days ago the recognition of the Palestine state scheduled for September 21 in the UN, positively accepted the British position. Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot underlined how the joint decision of London and Paris can “stop the infinite cycle of violence and reopen the perspective of peace in the region”.
This coordination between the main European countries underlines a more clear diplomatic line towards the Middle Eastern crisis and an attempt to push Israel towards a change of strategy.
Reactions and next steps
The British plan – illustrated by Starmer also to the American president Joe Biden during the meeting in Scotland – provides for a double pressure: on the one hand the condemnation of the escalation and attacks of Hamas, on the other the request for a concrete commitment by Israel for peace.
British Foreign Minister David Lammy will present the United Kingdom’s position already today at the United Nations Conference dedicated to the solution of the two states, co-sponsored by France and Saudi Arabia.
