UK Cabinet Pressures Starmer to Back Palestinian State Amid Gaza Crisis

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer is facing intensifying pressure from senior cabinet ministers and French President Emmanuel Macron to promptly recognize Palestine as a sovereign state amid the escalating humanitarian crisis in Gaza. While Starmer affirms that Palestinian statehood is an inalienable right and a ceasefire would pave the way for UK recognition, he has yet to commit to a specific timeline, emphasizing that recognition must be part of a broader peace plan leading to a two-state solution and lasting security for both Palestinians and Israelis. Macron announced France's intention to recognize Palestine at the upcoming UN General Assembly, increasing diplomatic pressure on the UK. Internal UK government tensions have risen due to reports of severe hunger and starvation in Gaza, despite an EU agreement with Israel aimed at increasing food supplies, with humanitarian groups criticizing Israel for failing to fulfill the terms. Starmer's government has also taken steps such as sanctioning Israeli officials and halting arms exports linked to the conflict, while emphasizing the need for recognition to be meaningful and not merely symbolic. The breakdown of ceasefire talks, with the US and Israel withdrawing from negotiations, further complicates diplomatic efforts, even as President Donald Trump recently suggested a deal was close.