Sir Keir Starmer’s threat to recognise Palestine if Israel does not end its war in Gaza and commit to a two-state solution carries profound symbolic weight.

The US has joined Israel in accusing Sir Keir Starmer of rewarding Hamas by announcing a plan to recognise Palestine as a state. The Prime Minister announced on Tuesday that the step would be taken in September unless Israel met a series of conditions.

Sir Keir Starmer's decision on Palestinian statehood only gives Hamas hope, a US state department official says.

It has long been a Labour position to recognise a Palestinian state as part of a peace process and at a time of maximum impact. There are important caveats. The prime minister said the UK will recognise a Palestinian state in September unless the Israeli government takes "substantive steps to end the appalling situation in Gaza".

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer says the U.K. will recognize a Palestinian state in September, unless Israel agrees to a ceasefire in Gaza and takes steps to long-term peace

So even if he has indeed bowed to pressure from MPs and cabinet ministers, Sir Keir has achieved a significant breakthrough in the past 48 hours or so. He won't please everyone, obviously, but no politician ever did in the Middle East.

Starmer said Israel must end its starvation tactics and agree to a ceasefire in Gaza, or the UK would recognise a Palestinian state in September. But what does that mean in practice? Tara Cobham expla

Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the U.K. would join France in officially recognizing a Palestinian state “unless the Israeli government takes substantive steps to end the appalling situation in Gaza.