Britain to recognize Palestine as a state unless Israel agrees to an ‘immediate ceasefire’ in Gaza

LONDON — The United Kingdom has said it would recognize Palestine as a state unless the Israeli government “takes substantive steps to end the appalling situation in Gaza,” as global anger mounts over the war in the Palestinian territory.

“We demand an immediate ceasefire to stop the slaughter, that the U.N. be allowed to send humanitarian assistance into Gaza on a continuing basis to prevent starvation, and the immediate release of the hostages,” a statement from British Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s office said Tuesday.

Of the 50 hostages who remain in the enclave, some 28 are believed to be dead.

The total number of Palestinians killed since Israel launched its military offensive in October 2023 has passed 60,000, the Health Ministry in the Gaza Strip announced earlier. Also Tuesday, the world’s leading body on hunger said the “worst-case scenario of famine” was unfolding there.

“Unless the Israeli government takes substantive steps to end the appalling situation in Gaza,” it would recognize the state of Palestine in September before the United Nations General Assembly, the British government’s statement said.

Hunger and malnutrition, which had been worsening since the beginning of the war, began to spiral after Israel ended a ceasefire with Hamas in May, permitting only a trickle of the desperately needed aid into the enclave. Israel has also sought to replace the United Nations-run aid structure with the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation. Backed by the United States with the help of private security contractors, GHF runs four distribution sites, compared with a network of hundreds that were in place before.

“The global community is deeply offended by children being shot and killed as they reach out for aid,” British Foreign Secretary David Lammy said at the U.N. on Tuesday in an apparent reference to the hundreds killed as they tried to reach aid distribution sites. “Children are starving, and Israel’s drip feeding of aid has horrified the world.”

Britain’s decision follows French President Emmanuel Macron’s announcement Thursday that France would recognize Palestine as a state. As with many governments, Britain and France voiced wholehearted support for Israel after the Hamas-led Oct. 7, 2023, terrorist attack on Israel that killed some 1,200 people and resulted in some 250 being taken hostage.

If they end up recognizing Palestine, Britain and France would join more than 140 countries that already do.

Britain’s move will almost certainly provoke an angry response from Israel and the U.S. On Thursday, Secretary of State Marco Rubio called France’s decision “reckless” and serving “Hamas propaganda.”

Starmer has faced pressure from growing numbers of lawmakers in his ruling Labour Party about recognizing a Palestinian state and putting pressure on the Israeli government.

Successive British governments have said they will formally make the move when the time was right, but they have never set a timetable or specified the necessary conditions to do so.

Tuesday’s announcement came after Starmer recalled his Cabinet during its summer recess to discuss a new peace plan being worked on with European leaders, part of which will focus on getting more aid into Gaza.

Support among Americans for Israel’s war in Gaza, which was triggered by the Oct. 7 surprise attacks, has fallen dramatically, according to a new Gallup poll. Only about one-third approved of the military action, which represents a drop from the beginning of the war when about half of Americans approved of the operation.