Starmer recognises Palestine despite last minute plea from hostage families

While he underlined that “hostages must be released immediately,” he did not make their freedom a condition for today’s step. Responding to criticism that recognising Palestine is a gift to Hamas, Starmer insisted that the “call for a genuine two-state solution is the exact opposite of their hateful vision. 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.”

The prime minister announced additional measures against the Palestinian terror group. “We have already prescribed and sanctioned Hamas. We will go further. I have directed work to sanction other Hamas figures in the coming weeks.”

At the same time, the prime minister made serious allegations against the Jewish state. “The Israeli government's relentless and increasing bombardment of Gaza in the offensive of recent weeks, the starvation and devastation are utterly intolerable. Tens of 1000s have been killed, including 1000s as they tried to collect food and water. This death and destruction horrifies all of us. It must end.

“Still nowhere near enough aid is getting through. We call again on the Israeli government to lift the unacceptable restrictions of the border, to stop these cruel tactics and let the aid surge.”

In July, Starmer announced that the government would formally move to recognise a Palestinian state “unless the Israeli government takes substantive steps to end the appalling situation in Gaza, agree to a ceasefire and commit to a long-term, sustainable peace, reviving the prospect of a Two State Solution”.

Speaking to Trevor Phillips on Sky News earlier on Sunday morning, Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy said that: “Since the announcement in July, in fact with the attack on Qatar, a ceasefire at this point lays in tatters and the prospects are bleak. We’ve also seen Israel move forward with an E1 development which would run a coach and horses between North and South of the West Bank and ensure that we do not get to two states.”

He went on to claim that “as a consequence of the decision we made back in the end of July, we saw the Palestinian Authority and the Arab League be crystal clear that there can be no role for Hamas – the first time they had done that” and repeated calls for them to release hostages.

However, critics of the government have said that today’s announcement is an effective reward for Hamas’ actions on October 7.

On Saturday, families of hostages, including relatives of Avinatan Or and Evyatar David, urged Starmer to make a last-minute change in policy.

“Your regrettable announcement of the UK's intention to recognise a Palestinian state at the United Nations General Assembly has dramatically complicated efforts to bring home our loved ones. Hamas has already celebrated the UK's decision as a victory and reneged on a ceasefire”, they wrote in a letter to the prime minister.

Adding: “We write to you with a simple plea – do not take this step until our loved ones are home and in our arms.”

“The best way to end this terrible war is for Hamas to release ALL of the 48 remaining hostages. Those who are alive for rehabilitation and those who are not, for proper burial. We implore you to use the UK's relationships with countries across the region to apply maximum pressure upon Hamas.”

Ahead of the expected announcement, Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch said that recognition of a Palestinian state without the release of hostages “would be a reward for terrorism”.

Writing in the Telegraph, she accused the prime minister of being “beholden to his hard-Left backbenchers”.

Reform UK’s deputy leader Richard Tice made similar comments on X, writing that Starmer’s “Palestine backing rewards Hamas” and amounted to “a terrible idea … wrong at every level.”

The move to recognise a Palestinian state without the release of hostages held by Hamas has also been strongly criticised by Jewish communal organisations.

"Today, as we prepare to celebrate Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, the UK government will formally recognise the Palestinian state. This is nothing short of a betrayal of the hostages and a reward for terrorism. It will make peace even more elusive,” the Jewish Leadership Council said in a statement.

The Board of Deputies said: “There will be deep dismay at the Prime Minister's announcement across the Jewish community and among family members of hostages. As we feared and warned, the way the UK has chosen to recognise the Palestinian state has done nothing to advance a ceasefire, free the hostages, stop the suffering of Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, or advance long-term peace. It may have set those goals back by reducing pressure on Hamas and enabling them to claim recognition as the fruits of its violence and intransigence.”

Following a meeting with Middle East Minister Hamish Falconer last week, representatives from the Jewish Leadership Council and the Board of Deputies “conveyed the deep objections across our community over recognising a Palestinian state at this time.”