LONDON/UNITED NATIONS – Downing Street on Tuesday, July 29, 2025, urged Israel to take substantive steps to end “the appalling situation in Gaza” and commit to a long-term, sustainable peace.
The British government said it would recognize the State of Palestine in September to “protect the viability of the two-state solution” if Israel does not act.
In a statement, Downing Street called on Israel to immediately allow the United Nations to resume humanitarian aid delivery to the people of Gaza and prevent starvation. The statement also urged Israel to agree to a ceasefire and to clearly state that there will be no annexations in the West Bank.
The statement called on Hamas to immediately release all hostages.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer elaborated on the conditional nature of recognizing 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 explained the timing of the announcement, saying, “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,” said British Foreign Secretary David Lammy at a high-level international conference on “The Peaceful Settlement of the Question of Palestine and the Implementation of the Two-State Solution” at the UN headquarters on Tuesday.
Lammy said Israel should live within secure borders, recognized and at peace with its neighbors, free from the threat of terrorism, and that Palestinians should live in their own state, in dignity and security, free of occupations.
At a media stakeout after the meeting, Lammy said the government’s decision “puts us on a pathway towards recognition” of the State of Palestine.
“We have seen the most horrific 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. / XINHUA