Keir Starmer is set to declare that the United Kingdom will officially acknowledge the statehood of Palestine today. The Prime Minister is anticipated to make the announcement following his commitment in July to do so if the situation in Gaza did not show improvement.
Recent developments have led Downing Street to conclude that the conditions have notably deteriorated, with distressing images of violence, starvation, and hardship becoming unbearable. The formal recognition by the UK will be conveyed to the United Nations by Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper and Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy on Monday.
In a previous statement in July, Keir Starmer demanded that Hamas release all hostages immediately, agree to a ceasefire, disarm, and acknowledge that it will not have a role in the governance of Gaza. These demands remain unchanged.
Earlier reports this week indicated that the announcement was postponed until after Donald Trump’s state visit, a claim denied by Mr. Starmer during a press conference at Chequers on Thursday. When questioned about whether recognizing Palestine would be viewed as a reward for Hamas, Starmer emphasized that Hamas, being a terrorist organization, should not be involved in the governance of Palestine.
Regarding the timing of recognition, Starmer clarified that it was unrelated to the state visit and that he had discussed it with the president. The decision is based on mutual respect and understanding between the two leaders.
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