London
\nMore than 200 lawmakers in the United Kingdom have called on the British government to recognise a Palestinian state, as pressure mounts on Prime Minister Keir Starmer to take concrete action amid Israel\u2019s war on Gaza.
\nSome 221 MPs from across the political spectrum signed an open letter on Friday calling on Starmer\u2019s Labour government to recognise a Palestinian state in advance of a United Nations conference on Palestine next week.
\n\u201cWe are expectant that the outcome of the conference will be the UK Government outlining when and how it will act on its long-standing commitment on a two-state solution; as well as how it will work with international partners to make this a reality,\u201d the letter reads.
\n\u201cWhilst we appreciate the UK does not have it in its power to bring about a free and independent Palestine, UK recognition would have a significant impact due to our historic connections and our membership on the UN Security Council, so we urge you to take this step.\u201d
\nParliamentarians from nine political parties were among the signatories, Labour MP Sarah Champion said, including Labour, the Conservatives, Liberal Democrats, SNP, and the Greens.
\nThe letter comes as public anger is growing in the UK and around the world over Israel\u2019s continued bombardment and blockade of the Gaza Strip, which has spurred a deadly starvation crisis.
\nIt also comes a day after French President Emmanuel Macron announced that France would recognise the State of Palestine at the UN in September.
\n\u201cConsistent with its historic commitment to a just and lasting peace in the Middle East,
\nI have decided that France will recognise the State of Palestine,\u201d Macron said in a social media post on Thursday.
\n\u201cI will make this solemn announcement before the United Nations General Assembly this coming September. The urgent priority today is to end the war in Gaza and to bring relief to the civilian population.\u201d
\nMacron\u2019s announcement drew the ire of Israeli leaders, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who said the move \u201crewards terror\u201d.
\nBut Netanyahu has faced widespread condemnation for Israel\u2019s continuing assault on Gaza, which has killed more than 59,000 Palestinians since it began in October 2023.
\nIsrael\u2019s blockade of the enclave has caused a deepening humanitarian crisis, with the United Nations and top human rights groups reporting that many Palestinian children are now suffering from severe malnutrition and at risk of death.
\nIn a statement on Friday, Starmer said \u201cthe appalling scenes in Gaza are unrelenting\u201d.
\n\u201cThe continued captivity of hostages, the starvation and denial of humanitarian aid to the Palestinian people, the increasing violence from extremist settler groups, and Israel\u2019s disproportionate military escalation in Gaza are all indefensible,\u201d he said.
\nBut Starmer stopped short of announcing plans to recognise a Palestinian state, instead saying he was working \u201con a pathway to peace in the region\u201d.
\n\u201cThat pathway will set out the concrete steps needed to turn the ceasefire so desperately needed, into a lasting peace,\u201d he said.
\n\u201cRecognition 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.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
London More than 200 lawmakers in the United Kingdom have called on the British government to recognise a Palestinian state, as pressure mounts on Prime Minister Keir Starmer to take concrete action amid Israel\u2019s war on Gaza. Some 221 MPs from across the political spectrum signed an open letter on Friday calling on Starmer\u2019s Labour […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":435415,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-492874","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-world"},"yoast_head":"\n