By Stefan J. Bos, Worthy News Europe Bureau Chief
JERUSALEM//LONDON (Worthy News) – British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said Tuesday that Britain would formally recognize a Palestinian state by September, if Israel does not stop its war against Hamas in Gaza in a move that was due to anger Israeli politicians.
Starmer stressed that Britain would make the move through the United Nations General Assembly in September if Israel doesn’t “take substantive steps to end the appalling situation in Gaza,” including agreeing to a ceasefire.
He added that the Jewish nation should also commit to a pathway to peace that revives the prospect of a two-state solution and clearly states that there will be no annexations in the West Bank, also known as Judaea and Samaria.
“Now is the moment to act,” Starmer said. “We see starving babies, children too weak to stand, images that will stay with us for a lifetime. The suffering must end.”
His announcement came shortly after France became the first Group of Seven (G7) nation to announce it would move towards recognizing a Palestinian state
French President Macron said the formal announcement would be made at the September session of the U.N. General Assembly in New York.
REWARDING TERROR?
“The urgent need today is for the war in Gaza to end and for the civilian population to be rescued. Peace is possible,” Macron stressed.
“We need an immediate ceasefire, the release of all hostages, and massive humanitarian aid to the people of Gaza,” he announced last week.
Palestinian officials welcomed Macron’s decision, while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the move “rewards terror” following Hamas’s 7 October 2023 attack in Israel.
At least 1,200 people were killed in the attack, while some 251 people were kidnapped.
The attack sparked a war in Gaza that Hamas-run authorities say has killed more 60,000 people. Those figures have been difficult to verify independently.
Israel maintains that roughly half of those killed were Hamas operatives.
Copyright 1999-2026 Worthy News. This article was originally published on Worthy News and was reproduced with permission.
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