Netanyahu vs Starmer: Israel-Palestine Perception War Escalates as UK PM Threatens Recognition Over Gaza Humanitarian Crisis
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has drawn a fierce rebuke from Israel after declaring that the United Kingdom would recognize the State of Palestine unless Israel halts its military offensive in Gaza and allows humanitarian aid to reach civilians.
This statement -- released ahead of the UN General Assembly in September -- marks the most significant UK policy shift on Palestine statehood in recent memory and comes amid a widening humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza.
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“Recognition of Palestine must be part of the pathway to peace,” Starmer said, emphasizing that it would move forward if certain conditions are not met -- including a ceasefire in Gaza, an end to the blockade of humanitarian aid, and a clear Israeli commitment to the two-state solution.
The backlash from Israel was immediate. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accused Starmer of “rewarding Hamas” and said that backing a Palestinian state now would “punish the victims of terrorism”.
Writing on X (formerly Twitter), Netanyahu warned, “A jihadist state on Israel’s border today will threaten Britain tomorrow.” Israel’s Foreign Ministry also slammed the move as “a reward for Hamas”, claiming it would derail efforts to release hostages and reach a ceasefire.
But Starmer's government -- under mounting pressure from within the Labour Party and across Europe -- appears determined.
His office has made clear that the recognition plan is conditional, and will depend on Israel’s actions in Gaza and Hamas agreeing to release hostages and step back from governance.
Starmer also reportedly discussed the UK’s Gaza ceasefire plan with US President Donald Trump during a bilateral meeting in Scotland this week.
Trump, though critical of Macron’s stance, took a more neutral tone toward Starmer, stating: “I don’t mind him taking a position.”
The shift comes amid worsening scenes from Gaza, where over 2 million people face starvation, according to UN agencies. Starmer has condemned the Gaza humanitarian crisis, pledging UK support for Jordan-led airdrops of food and medicine, and emphasizing that the UK will not look away from what he called “disproportionate Israeli actions.”
Observers say the UK Gaza policy shift reflects a broader transformation in European capitals. In addition to France, senior officials in Spain, Ireland, and Belgium have voiced support for recognition of Palestine, especially if ceasefire negotiations remain stalled.
Starmer’s decision echoes Labour’s 2024 manifesto, which included a promise to support Palestinian statehood.
Israel, meanwhile, maintains that any recognition of Palestinian statehood absent a peace agreement emboldens extremists and undermines negotiations.
Israeli officials have accused both France and the UK of responding to domestic political pressure rather than regional realities.
Still, for many European leaders, the worsening Gaza humanitarian crisis in 2025 and continued Israeli blockade of aid have shifted the political calculus.
Starmer reiterated that while “Hamas has no place in the future governance of Gaza,” the UK believes “statehood is the inalienable right of the Palestinian people.”
With the UN General Assembly weeks away, the diplomatic rift between Tel Aviv and key Western allies may soon deepen -- testing the limits of what Washington, London, and Paris are willing to do to end the conflict in Gaza and push toward a long-elusive two-state solution.