Benjamin Netanyahu has accused Sir Keir Starmer of ‘rewarding Hamas’ after he said the UK would recognise Palestine unless Israel took urgent steps to end the war in Gaza.
In a statement on Tuesday night, Sir Keir said Israel must agree to a ceasefire and allow unhindered aid into the enclave over the next two months if it wishes to prevent recognition of Palestine.
Israel must also “commit to a long-term sustainable peace” and “revive the prospect of a two-state solution” by September, Sir Keir said following an emergency virtual cabinet meeting.
But the Israeli prime minister hit back on X: “Starmer rewards Hamas’s monstrous terrorism & punishes its victims. Appeasement towards jihadist terrorists always fails. It will fail you too. It will not happen."
British charities and MPs have criticised the move, accusing Sir Keir of using Palestinian statehood as a “bargaining chip”.
The prime minister’s announcement came as a UN-backed food security body said the “worst-case scenario of famine” was playing out in the besieged enclave.
The war on Gaza has killed over 60,000 people since it erupted in October 2023, according to local officials.
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Key Points
- Israel given ultimatum by Starmer over UK recognising state of Palestine
- Forum for hostage families says recognising Palestinian state would reward terrorism
- Netanyahu accuses Starmer of 'appeasing terrorists'
- Trump: I never discussed UK recognition of Palestine with Starmer
Hostages Forum says recognising Palestine while hostages remain rewards terrorism
09:49
,
Steffie Banatvala
Hostages and Missing Families Forum Headquarters has said recognising a Palestinian state while hostages remain rewards terrorism in response to ‘growing European initiatives to recognise a Palestinian state’.
“Recognizing a Palestinian state while 50 hostages remain trapped in Hamas tunnels amounts to rewarding terrorism,” the Forum said.
“Such recognition is not a step toward peace, but rather a clear violation of international law and a dangerous moral and political failure that legitimizes horrific war crimes.”
Explained: Who else has recognised Palestinian statehood?
09:45
,
Steffie Banatvala
Last year, Ireland, Norway and Spain recognised a Palestinian state with its borders to be demarcated as they were prior to the 1967 Middle East war, when Israel captured the West Bank, Gaza and East Jerusalem.
However, they also recognised that those borders may change in any eventual talks to reach a final settlement, and that their decisions did not diminish their belief in Israel's fundamental right to exist in peace and security.
About 144 of the 193 member states of the United Nations recognise Palestine as a state, including most of the global south as well as Russia, China and India.
But only a handful of the 27 European Union members do so, mostly former Communist countries as well as Sweden and Cyprus.
The UN General Assembly approved the de facto recognition of the sovereign state of Palestine in November 2012 by upgrading its observer status at the world body to "non-member state" from "entity".
Minister ties herself in knots over conditions for recognition of Palestine
09:30
,
Steffie Banatvala
The transport secretary tied herself in knots when she was faced with questions over the conditions for the recognition of Palestine, following pushback to the government’s announcement.
There has been growing backlash to the position, with the government facing criticism for using Palestinian statehood as leverage, as well as confusion over whether the release of the hostages held by Hamas will be one of the conditions for recognition.
Millie Cooke, Political Correspondent writes:
Opinion: Why has it been so difficult for Britain to recognise the state of Palestine?
09:15
,
Steffie Banatvala
In the decades since the 1917 Balfour Declaration, the UK has broadly supported official recognition of a state of Palestine.
So why has it taken more than a century for a government to sign up to it, asks Donald Macintyre:
US Ambassador to Israel says UN, not Israel to blame for hunger in Gaza
09:03
,
Steffie Banatvala
US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee has said the United Nations, rather than Israel, is to blame for hunger in Gaza.
Huckabee told Newsmax on Tuesday that the UN has not distributed lifesaving food supplies in Gaza and Hamas is also interfering.
“The UN, unfortunately, wouldn't help,” Huckabee said. “They had 900 trucks full of food, sitting undelivered, sitting in the sun, rotting.”
“What I will tell you is the reason those problems exist is not because Israel is being unkind and unfair,” he said. “It's because Hamas has made life a hellhole for the people who are trying to live there.”
Explained: What would UK recognition of Palestine as a state actually mean?
09:00
,
Steffie Banatvala
Here, The Independent asks experts about what the UK recognising Palestinian statehood would mean in practice:
Chair of UK foreign affairs committee suggests Netanyahu is not an ally of UK
08:55
,
Millie Cooke, Political Correspondent
The chair of the House of Commons foreign affairs committee has suggested that Benjamin Netanyahu's government is not an ally of the UK.
Speaking to BBC Radio 4's Today programme, she acknowledged the long term relationship between Britain and Israel, but said the Israeli prime minister's administration is no longer doing what its people want.
“We are long term allies. We remain long term allies. But not with this far right government, not with the way that it is behaving. With Israel and with the Israeli people who are led by a government who is not doing what they want. They want peace," she said.
Netanyahu's 'furious' response shows Britain is 'not irrelevant', says senior Labour MP
08:54
,
Millie Cooke, Political Correspondent
Benjamin Netanyahu's "furious" response to Sir Keir Starmer's statement on the recognition of Palestine shows Britain is "not irrelevant", the chair of the parliamentary foreign affairs committee has said.
It comes after the Israeli PM issued a statement saying Sir Keir is rewarding "Hamas’s monstrous terrorism", adding: "Appeasement towards jihadist terrorists always fails. It will fail you too. It will not happen."
Denying claims that the UK is no longer relevant on the world stage, Emily Thornberry told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "If we were completely irrelevant, why has Netanyahu completely lost it overnight?"
She added: "It’s not exactly a considered diplomatic careful statement really. It’s a furious statement."
What steps did Saudi Arabia, France outline in their declaration?
08:52
,
Steffie Banatvala
France and Saudi Arabia’s seven-page declaration called for:
- An end to the the 22-month war in the Gaza Strip
- Release all the hostages
- Immediately establish a transitional administrative in Gaza under the umbrella of the Palestinian Authority, which currently exercises limited self-rule in the West Bank under Israeli occupation
- The deployment of a temporary international stabilisation mission, mandated by the U.N. Security Council
It calls on Israel to:
- Issue a clear public commitment to the two-state solution, including a sovereign and viable Palestinian State
- To immediately end violence and incitement against Palestinians
- To halt all settlement, land grabs, and annexation activities in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, including East Jerusalem.
What has Starmer demanded of Netanyahu ahead of recognition of a Palestinian state?
08:45
,
Steffie Banatvala
Recognition of a Palestinian state is a largely symbolic move given the situation on the ground in Gaza and the rest of the Occupied Palestinian Territories.
The Montevideo Convention of 1933 established several criteria which must apply before an entity can be recognised as a sovereign state.
These are a permanent population, a defined territory, an effective government and the ability to conduct international relations.
Saudi Arabia, France seek support for declaration on two-state solution
08:42
,
Steffie Banatvala
Saudi Arabia and France on Tuesday called on countries at the United Nations to support a declaration that outlines “tangible, timebound, and irreversible steps” towards implementing a two-state solution between Israel and the Palestinians.
The seven-page declaration is the result of an international conference at the UN this week - hosted by Saudi Arabia and France - on the decades-long conflict. The United States and Israel boycotted the event.
Scotland First Minister says UK announcement 'must be irreversible, and not conditional'
08:32
,
Steffie Banatvala
First Minister John Swinney has welcomed the UK Government’s announcement that it intends to recognise the State of Palestine - but stressed that this decision must be irreversible, and not conditional.
— First Minister (@ScotGovFM) July 29, 2025
➡️https://t.co/i45NjuxYf4 pic.twitter.com/NWLddhewNq
08:27
,
Steffie Banatvala
'UK plan to recognise Palestine is a step towards freedom': Norway's Foreign Minister
08:22
,
Steffie Banatvala
“The UK’s plan to recognise Palestine is a vital step toward freedom, security, and independence for Palestinians,” Norway’s Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide wrote on X, formerly Twitter.
“I urge more countries to follow suit, so that a free and independent Palestine - and thus the two-state solution - can become a reality.”
Netanyahu blasts Starmer over pledge UK will recognise Palestine unless war ends
08:13
,
Steffie Banatvala
Sir Keir Starmer is rewarding “Hamas’s monstrous terrorism” by announcing he will recognise a Palestinian state unless Israel moves to end the crisis in Gaza, Benjamin Netanyahu has claimed.
The Israeli prime minister issued a statement warning Sir Keir against the move, which the British PM said could take place in September.
The UK would refrain from recognising a Palestinian state if Israel allows more aid into Gaza, stops annexing land in the West Bank, agrees to a ceasefire and signs up to a long-term peace process over the next two months.
Cabinet minister rejects accusations of 'gesture politics' over Middle East peace plan
08:09
,
Millie Cooke, Political Correspondent
A cabinet minister has rejected accusations of "gesture politics" following the government's promise to recognise a Palestinian state if Israel meets certain conditions.
The decision came after mounting pressure over the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Gaza, with Labour MPs urging the prime minister to take action.
Asked about accusations of “gesture politics”, transport secretary Heidi Alexander told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: “I’m sorry, that’s just not true. This is about the Palestinian people. It’s about getting aid in to those starving children.”
Minister ties herself in knots over conditions for recognition of Palestine
08:08
,
Millie Cooke, Political Correspondent
The transport secretary tied herself in knots on broadcast round on Wednesday morning when she was faced with questions over the conditions for the recognition of Palestine, failing to say whether or not the release of hostages by Hamas was a necessary condition.
Heidi Alexander said ministers have “always said right from day one that the hostages need to be released”.
But asked whether this was one of the government’s conditions, she said: “This isn’t about Hamas, this is actually about delivering for the Palestinian people and making sure that we can get aid in.”
Pressed on whether or not Hamas would be required to release the hostages before the state of Palestine would be recognised by the UK, she told Sky News: “We will be making an assessment in September. We’ve said that very clearly…Israel needs to let aid in, they need to commit to a ceasefire.”
Lammy defends introducing conditions for Palestinian statehood
07:00
,
Alex Croft
British foreign secretary David Lammy has defended the UK’s decision to recognise Palestinian statehood in September only if Israel does not agree to a ceasefire and long-term peace process.
Mr Lammy told reporters at the United Nations that "what we have attempted to do is affect the situation on the ground, and I sincerely hope that we see a dramatic improvement to the suffering that we see and a commitment to a ceasefire”.
The UK announcement came a day after president Donald Trump met with the British prime minister. Mr Lammy was asked if Trump was given a heads-up.
While the US and UK have the "most special" relationship, Mr Lammy responded, "we have always been clear that no country has veto on solemn decisions that we make in the United Kingdom”.
Watch: Trump says Melania thinks Gaza crisis is 'terrible'
06:29
,
Alex Croft
British NGO 'appalled' after Palestinian statehood 'dangled like a bargaining chip'
06:01
,
Alex Croft
Major British NGO ActionAid UK has condemned Sir Keir Starmer’s announcement that the UK will recognise Palestine only on the condition that Israel agrees to a ceasefire by September.
“We are appalled to see Palestinian statehood dangled like a bargaining chip to get the Israeli government to cease its genocidal assault on Gaza,” co-CEO Hannah Bond said in a statement.
“A Palestinian state is not a threat to frighten the Israeli government into action after 21 months of relentless war and destruction, it is an unconditional and inalienable right to self-determination,” she added.
The statement added that “words of criticism will not compel the Israeli government to change course” and called on the UK to “use every diplomatic lever available” to bring about a ceasefire.
'It's outrageous': A Palestinian take on Starmer's announcement
05:01
,
Alex Croft
Sir Keir Starmer has angered some Palestinians following his conditional threat that the UK will recognise the state of Palestine.
Palestinian activists, international charities, and British MPs have condemned what they call the use of Palestinian statehood as a “bargaining chip”.
“It’s outrageous that our right to statehood is being made conditional on the actions of the very regime that’s occupying and killing us,” West Bank resident and activist Mohammad Hesham Hureini told The Independent.
“Recognition of Palestine shouldn’t be used as a bargaining chip. It’s a basic right, not something we have to earn by waiting for Israel to stop its violence,” he added.
“The world shouldn’t be bargaining with Israel while a genocide and famine are unfolding in Gaza.
“What’s needed is real international pressure to stop the crimes—not more conditions placed on Palestinian rights that should have been recognized long ago.”
Britain 'joining the momentum' for Palestinian statehood, says Paris
04:00
,
Alex Croft
French foreign minister Jean-Noel Barrot has written on social media site X that Britain was "joining the momentum initiated by France for the recognition of the state of Palestine".
"Together, through this pivotal decision and our combined efforts, we are putting an end to the endless cycle of violence and reopening the prospect of peace in the region," Mr Barrot said.
"Nothing can stand in the way of a just and clear idea."
'Everyone is horrified' by conditions in Gaza: UK Chancellor
03:01
,
Alex Croft
Speaking before joining the UK’s emergency cabinet meeting, the UK Chancellor said “everyone is horrified” by conditions in Gaza, but declined to comment on whether the UK would recognise a Palestinian state.
“It is vital that humanitarian aid can get into Gaza and it is also essential that the hostages - who've been held since the 7 October 2023 - are released,” Rachel Reeves told the BBC on a visit to a mine in Cornwall.
Ms Reeves said she did not want to “pre-empt” the discussions but added: “This government is committed to a two-state solution in the Middle East, with a safe and secure Israel sitting alongside a viable, and peaceful, Palestinian state.”
The emergency meeting is currently underway.
Why have two Israeli rights groups decided to accuse their country of genocide?
02:00
,
Alex Croft
Earlier we brought you the news that two major rights groups in Israel, B'Tselem and Physicians for Human Rights-Israel, have accused their country of genocide for the first time.
The rights groups, while prominent and respected internationally, are considered in Israel to be on the political fringe, and their views are not representative of the vast majority of Israelis. But having the allegation of genocide come from Israeli voices shatters a taboo in a society that has been reticent to criticice Israel's conduct in Gaza.
Guy Shalev, director of Physicians for Human Rights-Israel, said the Jewish-Israeli public often dismisses accusations of genocide as antisemitic or biased against Israel.
"Perhaps human rights groups based in Israel, and coming to this conclusion, is a way to confront that accusation and get people to acknowledge the reality," he said.
Israel asserts that it is fighting an existential war and abides by international law. It has rejected genocide allegations as antisemitic.
It is challenging such allegations at the International Court of Justice, and it has rejected the International Criminal Court's allegations that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant committed war crimes in Gaza. Both face international arrest warrants.
Trump disagrees with Starmer recognition but refrains from criticising him
01:00
,
Alex Croft
Donald Trump has disagreed with, but avoided criticising, moves by French president Emmanuel Macron and British prime minister Sir Keir Starmer to potentially recognise a Palestinian state.
“That’s OK,” he said of Sir Keir and Mr Macron’s positions. “But you know, it doesn’t mean I have to agree.”
The US president was speaking while on Air Force One, as he travels back to the US following a five day trip in Scotland. He says he did not discuss recognition with Sir Keir during their bilateral meeting on Monday.
Young mother struggles to breastfeed 11-month old son in Deir Al-Balah
Wednesday 30 July 2025 00:00
,
Alex Croft
Noura, 27, carefully cradled her 11-month toddler while waiting in line to get him screened for malnutrition at CARE’s primary healthcare centre in Deir Al-Balah. He has already missed some of his developmental milestones like crawling and teething.
“My son is supposed to be drinking formula milk, but there is none to offer. I give him an empty feeding bottle just to distract him,” Noura told CARE.
“I am barely able to breastfeed him, my milk has almost dried up because I’m also not eating well.”
Recognition 'rewards Hamas for 7 October', says Reform
Tuesday 29 July 2025 23:30
,
Alex Croft
Recognising Palestine as a state only serves to reward Hamas for its actions on the 7 October, a Reform spokesperson has said.
The spokesperson told The Telegraph: “Recognising Palestine as a state does little more than reward Hamas for their actions on October 7.
“This decision is being made at the wrong time and is a knee-jerk reaction by Keir Starmer to appease the hard left forces inside and outside of his party.”
Davey: Palestine recognition should not be used as a bargaining chip
Tuesday 29 July 2025 23:10
,
Alex Croft
Liberal Democrats leader Sir Ed Davey has criticised the government’s use of Palestinian statehood as a bargaining chip with Israel.
“Recognition of the state of Palestine should not be used as a bargaining chip,” Sir Ed wrote on X.
“It should have happened months ago. We also need far greater action to stop the humanitarian disaster in Gaza, including fully ceasing arms sales and implementing sanctions against the Israeli cabinet.”
Recognition of the state of Palestine should not be used as a bargaining chip. It should have happened months ago. We also need far greater action to stop the humanitarian disaster in Gaza, including fully ceasing arms sales and implementing sanctions against the Israeli cabinet.
— Ed Davey (@EdwardJDavey) July 29, 2025
Corbyn: 'Palestinian statehood is not a bargaining chip'
Tuesday 29 July 2025 22:57
,
Alex Croft
Former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, who now leads the Independent Alliance of MPs in parliament, has responded to Sir Keir Starmer’s Palestinian statehood announcement.
“Palestinian statehood is not a bargaining chip. It is not a threat,” Mr Corbyn wrote on X.
“It is an inalienable right of the Palestinian people.
“Our demands on this shameful government remain the same: end all arms sales to Israel, impose widespread sanctions, and stop the genocide, now.”
Palestinian statehood is not a bargaining chip.
— Jeremy Corbyn (@jeremycorbyn) July 29, 2025
It is not a threat.
It is an inalienable right of the Palestinian people.
Our demands on this shameful government remain the same: end all arms sales to Israel, impose widespread sanctions, and stop the genocide, now.
Saudi Arabia and France call on UN countries to support declaration on two-state solution
Tuesday 29 July 2025 22:25
,
Alex Croft
Saudi Arabia and France on Tuesday called on countries at the United Nations to support a declaration that outlines "tangible, timebound, and irreversible steps" towards implementing a two-state solution between Israel and the Palestinians.
The seven-page declaration is the result of an international conference at the UN this week - hosted by Saudi Arabia and France - on the decades-long conflict. The United States and Israel boycotted the event.
"We call on you to support this document before the end of the 79th session of the General Assembly by contacting the missions of Saudi Arabia and France in New York," Saudi foreign minister Faisal bin Farhan Al-Saud told the conference on Tuesday.
"Following the ceasefire, a transitional administrative committee must be immediately established to operate in Gaza under the umbrella of the Palestinian Authority," it reads. The Palestinian Authority currently exercises limited self-rule in the West Bank under Israeli occupation.
The declaration supports the deployment of a temporary international stabilization mission, mandated by the UN Security Council, and welcomes "the readiness expressed by some member states to contribute troops."
Why has it been so difficult for Britain to recognise the state of Palestine?
Tuesday 29 July 2025 21:54
,
Alex Croft
Keir Starmer’s decision to recognise the state of Palestine – unless, that is, Israel agrees to a Gaza ceasefire – begs a simple question. Not so much “why?” – for decades, a two-state solution that would see a Palestinian homeland established in the West Bank, the Gaza Strip and East Jerusalem has been the policy of successive UK governments, and one that was voted for, overwhelmingly, in the Commons 11 years ago.
But, rather, how today’s announcement, following an emergency meeting of the cabinet, that the British government – exasperated by the ongoing situation in Gaza and the dwindling prospects of a two-state solution with Israel – will formally recognise Palestine in September, could have been quite so long in the making.
Britain has played a pivotal role in the pre-history of the present Israeli-Palestinian conflict, starting with the 1917 Balfour Declaration. The then British foreign secretary Arthur Balfour’s letter to Lord Rothschild promising support for a “national home for the Jewish people” set our seal on a future Israeli state.
The Independent’s former Jerusalem bureau chief Donald Macintyre writes:
Watch: Trump says Melania thinks Gaza crisis is 'terrible'
Tuesday 29 July 2025 21:33
,
Alex Croft
Netanyahu accuses Starmer of appeasing terrorists
Tuesday 29 July 2025 20:44
,
Jane Dalton
Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu has accused his UK counterpart Sir Keir Starmer of appeasing terrorists by warning the UK may recognise the state of Palestine.
Sir Keir’s decision would lead to Hamas threatening Britain, Mr Netanyahu predicted.
“Starmer rewards Hamas’s monstrous terrorism & punishes its victims,” he wrote on social media.
“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."
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu:
— Prime Minister of Israel (@IsraeliPM) July 29, 2025
"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."
Who else has recognised Palestinian statehood?
Tuesday 29 July 2025 20:30
,
Alex Croft
Last year, Ireland, Norway and Spain recognised a Palestinian state with its borders to be demarcated as they were prior to the 1967 Middle East war, when Israel captured the West Bank, Gaza and East Jerusalem.
However, they also recognised that those borders may change in any eventual talks to reach a final settlement, and that their decisions did not diminish their belief in Israel's fundamental right to exist in peace and security.
About 144 of the 193 member states of the United Nations recognise Palestine as a state, including most of the global south as well as Russia, China and India.
But only a handful of the 27 European Union members do so, mostly former Communist countries as well as Sweden and Cyprus.
The UN General Assembly approved the de facto recognition of the sovereign state of Palestine in November 2012 by upgrading its observer status at the world body to "non-member state" from "entity".
40 senators sign letter urging Trump to do more for Gazans
Tuesday 29 July 2025 20:14
,
Alex Croft
Senate Democrats are imploring president Donald Trump's administration to step up its role in addressing suffering and starvation in Gaza, with more than 40 senators signing onto a letter on Tuesday.
The letter urges the resumption of ceasefire talks and sharply criticised an Israeli-backed American organization that had been created to distribute food aid.
Addressed to secretary of state Marco Rubio and the Republican president's special envoy, Steve Witkoff, the senators said the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation has "failed to address the deepening humanitarian crisis and contributed to an unacceptable and mounting civilian death toll around the organization's sites”.
Mr Trump on Monday said that the U.S. would set up food centres to address the worsening humanitarian crisis, but he did not offer any details.
Democrats still called for a "large-scale expansion" of aid into Gaza channeled through organizations experienced working in the area.
Democratic senator Brian Schatz of Hawaii said that changes to the way Israel allows aid into Gaza were at fault, adding that it was "not at all credible" to think the Israeli military — one of the most advanced in the world — is incapable of facilitating aid distribution or performing crowd control.
"They made a choice to establish a new way of doing food distribution," he said. "And it's not working at all."
Opinion: Has Trump just become the very model of a modern liberal leader?
Tuesday 29 July 2025 20:00
,
Steffie Banatvala
With the US president shifting his stance on Gaza and Ukraine – and by going harder on Putin and Netanyahu – the last few days have seen extremely welcome signs that he is capable of doing some good every now and again.
The Independent’s Associate Editor Sean O’Grady writes:
Report: What has Starmer demanded of Netanyahu ahead of recognition of a Palestinian state?
Tuesday 29 July 2025 19:59
,
Alex Croft
Sir Keir Starmer has issued an ultimatum to Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, warning he will recognise a Palestinian state in September unless a series of conditions are met.
The prime minister’s decision comes after mounting pressure from his backbench MPs, and even cabinet ministers, to recognise Palestine as a state.
Sir Keir held an emergency meeting of his cabinet on Tuesday to condemn the “increasingly intolerable situation” in Gaza and discuss a UK-led peace plan for the region which David Lammy presented to allies in New York.
The Independent’s political correspondent Archie Mitchell reports:
In pictures: Palestinians search for aid in Gaza
Tuesday 29 July 2025 19:46
,
Alex Croft
Lammy defends introducing conditions for Palestinian statehood
Tuesday 29 July 2025 19:37
,
Alex Croft
British foreign secretary David Lammy has defended the UK’s decision to recognise Palestinian statehood in September only if Israel does not agree to a ceasefire and long-term peace process.
Mr Lammy told reporters at the United Nations that "what we have attempted to do is affect the situation on the ground, and I sincerely hope that we see a dramatic improvement to the suffering that we see and a commitment to a ceasefire”.
The UK announcement came a day after president Donald Trump met with the British prime minister. Mr Lammy was asked if Trump was given a heads-up.
While the US and UK have the "most special" relationship, Mr Lammy r