By: Fern Sidman

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Friday affirmed his government’s position that recognition of a Palestinian state must be integrated into a comprehensive diplomatic framework that secures lasting peace and mutual security for both Israelis and Palestinian Arabs. In a statement released amid mounting international pressure for Western powers to take definitive action on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, Starmer emphasized that recognition must be a calibrated diplomatic instrument, not an isolated declaration.

As reported on Friday by Israel National News, Starmer’s remarks come on the heels of French President Emmanuel Macron’s announcement that France will formally recognize a Palestinian state at the United Nations General Assembly in September. Macron’s move has renewed calls from Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas for other Western nations—including the United Kingdom—to follow suit.

In his statement, Prime Minister Starmer addressed what he described as the deteriorating humanitarian and security situation in Gaza, characterizing the crisis as an enduring emergency with global implications. “The appalling scenes in Gaza are unrelenting. 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 are all indefensible,” Starmer stated.

However, as the Israel National News report noted, Starmer simultaneously positioned his government as a proponent of pragmatic diplomacy, articulating that symbolic gestures alone would not suffice to alter the course of events on the ground. “Recognition of a Palestinian state has to be one of those steps. I am unequivocal about that. But it must be part of a wider plan which ultimately results in a two-state solution and lasting security for Palestinians and Israelis,” he said.

Starmer’s statement represents a measured deviation from recent calls within the Labour Party and broader European political circles for immediate and unilateral recognition of Palestinian statehood. While asserting the necessity of recognition, the Prime Minister stressed that any such step must be “a tool of maximum utility” to advance tangible improvements for civilians affected by the conflict.

“Alongside our closest allies, I am working on a pathway to peace in the region,” Starmer said. “Focused on the practical solutions that will make a real difference to the lives of those that are suffering in this war. That pathway will set out the concrete steps needed to turn the ceasefire so desperately needed into a lasting peace.”

According to the information provided in the Israel National News report, Starmer’s remarks are likely intended to strike a diplomatic balance between rising calls for Palestinian sovereignty and ongoing British commitments to Israel’s right to defend itself amid an ongoing war against Hamas and its affiliates in Gaza.

Starmer’s announcement came less than 24 hours after French President Macron formally committed to recognizing the State of Palestine at the UN. Macron’s position has energized the Palestinian Authority, with Mahmoud Abbas quickly urging the UK and other Western powers to align with France’s initiative. As reported by Israel National News, Macron had previously called on the United Kingdom to coordinate such a move, hoping to present a unified Western front in support of a two-state framework.

The French declaration has significantly intensified diplomatic pressure on London to act. However, as the Israel National News report has observed, the UK government under Starmer appears more inclined toward sequencing recognition as part of a broader roadmap, rather than as a standalone gesture. This distinction is critical to understanding Britain’s position as one grounded in conditionality and strategic impact rather than political symbolism.

Starmer’s comments have prompted a range of reactions across Europe and the Middle East. The report at Israel National News noted that while some observers in Ramallah view Starmer’s remarks as a tentative step forward, others remain skeptical of his insistence on conditioning recognition on broader peace mechanisms.

Israeli government officials have yet to formally respond to Starmer’s remarks, but Israeli diplomatic circles have expressed concern over growing European momentum behind Palestinian statehood declarations, especially in the absence of negotiated security guarantees or Palestinian reforms.

Starmer’s statement reflects an evolving political calculus in the wake of escalating civilian casualties in Gaza, ongoing hostage situations, and allegations of disproportionate Israeli military action. While maintaining Britain’s long-standing support for a negotiated peace process, Starmer acknowledged the moral and humanitarian imperatives now driving public discourse.

By emphasizing concrete steps toward a ceasefire and longer-term peace, Starmer appears to be signaling a preference for substantive diplomacy over symbolic politics. This approach stands in contrast to more assertive declarations from European peers and within factions of the Labour Party, some of whom have demanded immediate recognition regardless of broader regional conditions.

The UK’s position is being closely watched not only by regional actors but also by Washington, which remains central to any long-term resolution to the conflict. Starmer’s choice to emphasize practical steps and bilateral security reflects an awareness of this geopolitical reality and of Britain’s historic role as a cautious broker in Middle East diplomacy.

Starmer concluded his statement by reiterating that the ultimate objective must be a negotiated two-state solution that ensures peace and security for both peoples. “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,” he said.

As developments unfold ahead of the UN General Assembly, Starmer’s comments suggest the UK may consider formal recognition of Palestinian statehood as part of a multilateral diplomatic process, but not in isolation. For now, London’s path remains deliberate and conditional.

According to the report at Israel National News, this careful approach may offer Britain a bridge-building role amid widening divisions between European capitals and Jerusalem — positioning the UK as a player committed both to Palestinian statehood and Israeli security, but not at the expense of either.