Starmer Refuses Immediate Recognition of Palestinian State

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has rejected calls from MPs to immediately recognise a Palestinian state, while Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has said that recognising the State of Palestine before it is established could be counterproductive.

Some 221 MPs have signed a letter urging the British Government to recognise the state of Palestine at a meeting of the UN next week. The UK would follow in the footsteps of France if it did, after Emmanuel Macron announced on Thursday that France would recognise a Palestinian state at the UN General Assembly in September.

Senior Labour MP Sarah Champion, who co-ordinated the cross-party letter, said recognition \"would send a powerful symbolic message that we support the rights of the Palestinian people\". While Mr Starmer said he was \"unequivocal\" about wanting to see a Palestinian state, he insisted this needed to be part of a \"wider plan which ultimately results in a two-state solution and lasting security for Palestinians and Israelis\".

Thousands of people turned out at a noisy protest against the food shortages in Gaza banging pots and pans before leaving them at the gates of Downing Street. The UK and its allies must work together to broker a peace, he added, likening the effort to the coalition of the willing to support Ukraine.

US President Donald Trump, who is currently visiting Scotland, has said Mr Macron's announcement was \"not going to change anything\". Ms Meloni meanwhile said that while she was very much in favour of a Palestinian state, she was \"not in favour of recognising it prior to establishing it\". \"If something that doesn't exist is recognised on paper, the problem could appear to be solved when it isn't,\" Ms Meloni added.

France's decision to recognise a Palestinian state at the United Nations General Assembly in September drew condemnation from Israel and the United States, amid the war in Gaza between Israel and Palestinian militant group Hamas. French President Emmanuel Macron announced that France would formally recognise the State of Palestine in September.

Yesterday, Italy's foreign minister said recognition of a Palestinian state must occur simultaneously with recognition of Israel by the new Palestinian entity. A German government spokesperson said that Berlin was not planning to recognise a Palestinian state in the short term and said its priority now is to make \"long-overdue progress\" towards a two-state solution.

Mr Starmer meanwhile also welcomed that Israel said it would allow aid to be delivered by parachute to alleviate starvation in Gaza. He said the step had \"come far too late\", but he insisted the UK will \"do everything we can to get aid in via this route\". Britain is already working alongside Jordan to get aid onto planes, he signalled, also adding that children from Gaza in need of specialist medical care will be evacuated to the UK for treatment.

In a video statement released yesterday, he made plain his desire for a ceasefire. He said: \"I know the British people are sickened by what is happening. The images of starvation and desperation are utterly horrifying. The denial of aid to children and babies is completely unjustifiable, just as the continued captivity of hostages is completely unjustifiable.\"

Meanwhile, in a statement released alongside German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and France's Mr Macron, the Prime Minister urged Israel to stop restricting the flow of aid into Gaza. A call between the three leaders was expected yesterday, but has been postponed until the weekend. US-led peace talks in Qatar were cut short on Thursday, with Washington's special envoy Steve Witkoff accusing Hamas of a \"lack of desire to reach a ceasefire\". The deal under discussion is expected to include a 60-day ceasefire, and aid supplies would be ramped up as negotiations on a lasting truce took place.