Starmer prioritises Gaza ceasefire over Palestine recognition

— Keir Starmer (@Keir_Starmer) July 10, 2025

The leaders also signed a joint declaration which reaffirmed their commitment to “recognising a Palestinian state, as a contribution to a peace process”. And they pledged to “work together to support its development and the realisation of a two-state solution”.

However, during a joint press conference in Northwood headquarters, a military base in north west London, Starmer – who spoke for around eight minutes – did not mention the issue of Palestinian statehood during his speech.

By contrast, Macron, whose address lasted twice as long as Starmer’s, described the conflict in Gaza as an “endless war without a strategic goal” and called for a ceasefire and the release of hostages held by Hamas.

The French leader also spoke about the need to recognise a Palestinian state as a means of achieving a lasting peace in the Middle East.

He made a similar point during his address to Parliament on Tuesday, during which he urged the UK and France to work “together in order to recognise the state of Palestine and to initiate this political momentum is the only path to peace”.

During Thursday’s press conference, Starmer was asked about his views on Palestinian statehood by French reporters and began by saying that he thought the current situation in Gaza was “utterly intolerable”.

“We need a ceasefire. We need aid to go in at volume, at pace, in a way that simply isn't happening on the ground at the moment. And of course, we need hostages to be released”, he added.

The prime minister went on to reiterate Labour’s manifesto position, which described Palestinian statehood as “the inalienable right of the Palestinian people” and that the party was “committed to recognising a Palestinian state as a contribution to a renewed peace process which results in a two-state solution with a safe and secure Israel alongside a viable and sovereign Palestinian state”.

But he said that the focus of world leaders ought to be “unrelentingly on getting a ceasefire that will allow the space for the politics to take over from the fighting and allow the space for the aid to get in and for the hostages to get out”.

His comments came after David Lammy, the foreign secretary, suggested earlier this week that the UK would take more sanctions against Israel if a ceasefire in Gaza wasn’t reached.

He told the House of Commons’ Foreign Affairs Select Committee on Tuesday: “We have to get the ceasefire.”

Asked by Labour MP Alex Ballinger whether the government would “take measures against Israel” if a ceasefire was not achieved, Lammy responded: “Yes, we will.”

Last year, the government suspended some arms sales to Israel over concerns over potential breaches of international law.

And in June, for the first time in history, two Israeli ministers – far-right finance minister Bezalel Smotrich and internal security minister Itamar Ben-Gvir – were sanctioned by the British government for “repeated incitements of violence against Palestinian communities”.

The government has also suspended talks for a free trade agreement and summoned Israel’s ambassador in protest at the renewed Israeli offensive in Gaza.

On Wednesday, the government further criticised Israeli policy in the Strip.

Middle East Minister Hamish Falconer said he was “appalled” by an Israeli proposal to confine the entire population of Gaza in a new “humanitarian city” in Rafah.

“Palestinian territory must not be reduced. Civilians must be able to return to their communities. We need to move towards a ceasefire deal and open a pathway to lasting peace”, Falconer said in a post on X.