British Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced on Sunday that the United Kingdom will recognize a Palestinian state.
“In the face of the growing horror in the Middle East, we are acting to keep alive the possibility of peace and a two-state solution. That means a safe and secure Israel alongside a viable Palestinian state,” Starmer said. “At the moment, we have neither.”
The U.K. joined Canada and Australia in the move toward a two-state solution between Israel and the Palestinians.
Starmer had teased such an announcement earlier this summer, “unless the Israeli government takes substantive steps to end the appalling situation in Gaza.” The prime minister continued to condemn the “cruel tactics” of Israel blocking nearly all humanitarian aid with the exception of the U.S.-Israeli-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation.
The foundation, whose aid dispersal operations have been marked by repeated mass killings of Palestinians, is an attempt to replace the United Nations and is the sole provider of food to the region. According to Starmer, “nowhere near enough aid is getting through.”
France has signaled it could jointly recognize a Palestinian state. Each nation has called for an immediate ceasefire and for Hamas to release all of the remaining hostages. This announcement is expected to be unveiled at a U.N. General Assembly conference starting Monday.
U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee expressed concern with the recognition of a Palestinian state, suggesting that recognizing such a state is “not helpful” to the conflict.
“The reason that Hamas pulled away from all discussions is because they’re watching the Europeans patting them on the back and giving them power and influence,” Huckabee said before Starmer’s announcement.
“The world needs to stand with Israel and say to Hamas, ‘You’re finished.’ That’s what the president is saying,” Huckabee said.
Starmer denied Hamas would benefit from this announcement, pointing to the sanctions the U.K. has already imposed on Hamas.
“Let’s be frank: Hamas a brutal, terrorist organization. Our call for a genuine two-state solution is the exact opposite of their hateful vision,” Starmer said. “So we are clear: This solution is not a reward for Hamas because it means Hamas can have no future, no role in government, no role in security.”
MACRON BICKERS WITH RUBIO ON WHETHER RECOGNIZING PALESTINIAN STATE HELPS HAMAS
A declaration from the 22-member Arab League, the entire European Union, and another 17 countries demanded that Hamas relinquish power to the Palestinian Authority. The United States did not join in the declaration.
The Washington Examiner has reached out to the White House for comment.