Kier Starmer: No To Unilateral Recognition Of Palestine | WATCH
Despite a scathing critique of Israel's war, the Prime Minister refused to join French President Macron in unilaterally recognizing a state of Palestine separate from a general peace deal.
British Prime Minister Kier Starmer released a public statement today (Friday) which rejected the idea of unilateral recognition of a state of Palestine separate from a broader plan to make it a reality, even while sharply condemning Israel's war in Gaza and the failure to ensure Palestinians receive aid.
Watch (transcript below):
Transcript:
"The appalling scenes in Gaza are unrelenting. (0:06) And 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 to babies is completely unjustifiable. Just as the continued captivity of hostages is completely unjustifiable. Hundreds of civilians have been killed while seeking aid.
"Children killed while collecting water. It is a humanitarian catastrophe and it must end. We've put millions of pounds of aid into Gaza.
"We've announced an extra 40 million this year. But that help is not getting in. So we're scaling up our work.
"We are accelerating efforts to evacuate children from Gaza who need critical medical assistance. Bringing them to the UK for specialist medical treatment. News that Israel will allow countries to airdrop aid into Gaza has come far too late.
"But we will do everything we can to get aid in via this route. We are already working urgently with the Jordanian authorities to get British aid onto planes and into Gaza. More broadly, alongside our closest allies, I am working on a pathway to peace in the region focused on the practical solutions that will make a real difference to the lives of those who are suffering in this war.
"That pathway will set out concrete steps to turn the desperately needed ceasefire into a lasting peace. Recognition of a Palestinian state has to be one of those steps. I'm 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. That is the way to ensure that recognition is a tool of maximum impact to improve the lives of those who are suffering. And that must always be our ultimate goal.
"The fact that we rebuilt the UK's standing on the world stage enables us to rally international action behind real purposeful practical solutions. That is what we've done with the Coalition of the Willing in support of Ukraine. And that is what must happen in the Middle East, building a new international coalition behind a plan to end the suffering.
"Now and for the long term."