Prime Minister Keir Starmer is under pressure from senior cabinet ministers and over a third of Members of Parliament to move decisively toward recognising a Palestinian state. The call comes amid growing international condemnation of Israel’s blockade of humanitarian aid to Gaza, where severe child malnutrition cases have reportedly tripled in just two weeks.
Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner and Home Secretary Yvette Cooper are among the ministers backing immediate action, aligning with France’s latest diplomatic move. France announced it will recognise a Palestinian state at the upcoming UN General Assembly in September, increasing expectations on the UK to follow suit.
In a joint statement, the United Kingdom, France, and Germany declared that the Gaza “humanitarian catastrophe must end now”, urging Israel to “immediately lift restrictions on the flow of aid.” The statement added: “Withholding essential humanitarian assistance to the civilian population is unacceptable.”
Following a call with French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Starmer stated that the ongoing crisis marked by the “continued captivity of hostages, the starvation and denial of humanitarian aid to the Palestinian people, the increasing violence from extremist settler groups, and Israel’s disproportionate military escalation in Gaza” was “indefensible.”
Although Starmer reaffirmed his support for a two-state solution, he insisted that recognising Palestine must form part of a broader peace initiative.
“It must be part of a wider plan which ultimately results in a two-state solution and lasting security for Palestinians and Israelis. This is the way to ensure it is a tool of maximum utility to improve the lives of those who are suffering, which, of course, will always be our ultimate goal.”
Prime Minister Keir Starmer
Starmer’s comments coincided with President Donald Trump’s visit to Scotland, where the two are scheduled to meet on Monday. Trump dismissed France’s move, stating it “doesn’t carry weight” and “is not going to change anything.”
MPs Urging Palestine Recognition
The UK’s current policy supports recognising a Palestinian state only as part of a multilateral peace process, at what officials call the “point of maximum impact.”
However, within Starmer’s cabinet, support for more immediate recognition is growing. Cabinet ministers, including Wes Streeting, Shabana Mahmood, Hilary Benn, Ian Murray, Jo Stevens, and Lisa Nandy, have all reportedly voiced support during recent meetings. A cabinet source described the internal pressure as “everybody v No 10.”
A Labour insider added, “Too many people in No 10 just see this as a ‘left’ issue and actually don’t get how widespread public anger is.”
Angela Rayner, drawing parallels to past global conflicts, stated last month that lessons from inaction must be heeded. Speaking at a service commemorating the 30th anniversary of the Srebrenica genocide, she said: “The West took too long to act in the 1990s, and we should have acted sooner. Now we must learn the lessons of history and the consequences of inaction.”
Foreign Secretary David Lammy is also under pressure, with 221 MPs from nine political parties signing a letter urging him to announce recognition of Palestine at a UN conference next week in New York. The letter emphasised Britain’s global standing and historical responsibility: “Whilst 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.”
As tensions grow within the Labour leadership and international pressure intensifies, the question of Palestine’s recognition is emerging as a defining test of Starmer’s foreign policy leadership.
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