The UK is “committed” to recognising the state of Palestine, a minister has said – while refusing to give a timeline for when it might happen.
James Murray, the exchequer secretary to the Treasury, said any move to recognise the state of Palestine would have to be “part of a pathway to peace”.
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It comes as Sir Keir Starmer is coming under growing pressure from his MPs to make the diplomatic move after images of starving children emerged from Gaza, prompting an intervention from Live Aid organiser Bob Geldof, who called the situation a “disgrace”.
Emmanuel Macron, the French president, has already stated he will recognise a Palestinian state at the UN general assembly in September.
Israel has condemned the proposal, with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu saying it “rewards terror and risks creating another Iranian proxy, just as Gaza became”.
Appearing on Sunday Morning with Trevor Phillips, Mr Murray said Sir Keir had made the question of Palestinian statehood “absolutely clear”.
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“It’s not a question of if, what we now need to focus on is how do we make Palestinian statehood a reality,” he said.
However, he said the move should only be taken to “galvanise change”.
“As a government, we’re committed to the recognition of Palestine, but we need to work with international partners and we need to use that moment to galvanise change.
“It needs to be part of a pathway to peace.
“140 countries have already recognised Palestine. The suffering is still continuing.”
Mr Murray also confirmed that Sir Keir will raise the issue of Gaza when he meets Donald Trump in Scotland on Monday for talks on the US president’s golf course in Turnberry.
The prime minister is under pressure to act on Palestine after 221 MPs signed a cross-party letter demanding he take the step.
The letter, organised by Sarah Champion, the Labour MP for Rotherham and the chair of parliament’s International Development Committee, read: “British recognition of Palestine would be particularly powerful given its role as the author of the Balfour Declaration and the former mandatory power in Palestine.
“Since 1980 we have backed a two-state solution. Such a recognition would give that position substance as well as living up to a historic responsibility we have to the people under that Mandate.”
Separately, the prime minister is also facing the prospect of a showdown in parliament over the issue, after the SNP said it would try to force the government into recognising Palestine as a state via a bill when the Commons returns from the summer recess.
On Friday, Sir Keir released a statement on Gaza, calling the “appalling scenes” in the enclave “unrelenting”.
“Recognition of a Palestinian state has to be one of those steps,” he said.
“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.”
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Israel challenged on starvation in Gaza
Israel has denied there is a food shortage in Gaza, despite more than 100 aid agencies warning of mass starvation in Gaza earlier this week.
The Israeli government claims it had to take control of the supply and distribution of aid because Hamas fighters had been stealing aid before it reached civilians, which Hamas denies.
On Friday, Israel began allowing foreign countries to drop aid into Gaza, which the UK is partaking in.
Mr Geldof, who spoke to Sunday Morning with Trevor Phillips, said he believed the Israeli government was “lying” after a spokesperson claimed there was “no famine caused by Israel”.
“They’re lying,” Mr Geldof said. “[Benjamin] Netanyahu lies, is a liar. The IDF are lying. They’re dangling food in front of starving, panicked, exhausted mothers.
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“And while they arrive to accept the tiny amount of food that this sort of set up pantomime outfit, the Gaza Humanitarian Front, I would call it, as they dangle it, then they’re shot wantonly.
“This month, up to now, 1,000 children or 1,000 people have died of starvation. I’m really not interested in what either of these sides are saying.”
Despite the “heartbreaking” images, Tory leader Kemi Badenoch said pictures of children starving in Gaza had not made her question her support for Israel.
She told Trevor Phillips: “What I’m seeing is Israel allowing humanitarian aid to go in. And this has been an unbelievably difficult situation. It’s been heartbreaking seeing some of the pictures, hearing those stories and what we all want to see is this coming to an end. And that will happen when the hostages are released. We need a ceasefire.”
She added: “I also know that allowing a terrorist organisation to win is not going to be safe, not just for Israel, but for the rest of the world.”
