London, July 30
Downing Street urged Israel to take substantive steps to end "the appalling situation in Gaza" and commit to a long-term and sustainable peace, or else the British government will recognise the State of Palestine in September to "protect the viability of the two-state solution."
In a statement, Downing Street called on Israel to immediately allow the United Nations to resume the delivery of humanitarian aid to the people of Gaza to prevent starvation, agree to a ceasefire, and clearly state that there will be no annexations in the West Bank.
The statement also called on Hamas to immediately release all hostages, Xinhua news agency reported.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer elaborated on the conditional nature of recognising a Palestinian state during a press conference on Tuesday. He said the British government's primary goal is to change the reality on the ground, and that "this is intended to further that cause."
Starmer also explained the timing of the announcement: "I'm particularly concerned that the idea of a two-state solution is receding and feels further away today than it has for many years."
"There is no better solution for the future of the region than two states," with Israel living with its secure borders recognized and at peace with their neighbors free from the threat of terrorism, and Palestinians living in their own state, in dignity and security free of occupations, said British Foreign Secretary David Lammy on Tuesday at a high-level international conference on "The Peaceful Settlement of the Question of Palestine and the Implementation of the Two-State Solution" held at the UN headquarters.
At a media press stakeout after his statement at the meeting, Lammy said the decision that has been taken "puts us on a pathway towards recognition" of the State of Palestine.
"We have seen the most terrific scenes. The global community is deeply offended by children being shot and killed as they reach out for aid," he told reporters.
More than 200 members of parliament from nine political parties signed a letter to the prime minister and Lammy on Saturday, calling on the government to recognize a Palestinian state.
— IANS
Reader Comments
While I support peace, this feels like rewarding Hamas for terrorism. First they should release all hostages unconditionally. UK is being too soft - remember 26/11 Mumbai attacks? We know how terrorism affects innocent lives.
As an Indian who has seen partition violence in our history, I understand both sides need security. But current situation is unacceptable. UK's balanced approach - putting conditions on both Israel and Hamas - seems practical. Hope our government learns from this.
The humanitarian crisis should be priority number one. No child should starve because of political conflicts. India has always stood for peace - we should lead international efforts for ceasefire and aid delivery.
Western countries suddenly remember human rights when it's not their interests at stake. Where was UK when Kashmir issue was at UN? Double standards hai bhai! But still, any step towards peace is welcome.
Recognition alone won't solve anything. Need concrete roadmap with international guarantees. Look at how India-Pakistan partition turned out - we're still suffering consequences. UK should ensure proper implementation before taking such steps.
Good move by UK but timing seems political. Why wait till September? Children are dying today! India should push for immediate ceasefire through UN. Our foreign policy needs to be more proactive on
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.