London, 29 July 2025
From: Prime Minister’s Office, 10 Downing Street
Statement on the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and the recognition of a Palestinian State
“Our overwhelming concern is for the hostages and for the people of Gaza. We must do all we can to end the current suffering and change the situation on the ground.
We demand an immediate ceasefire to stop the slaughter, that the UN be allowed to send humanitarian assistance into Gaza on a continuing basis to prevent starvation, and the immediate release of the hostages. We support the US, Qatari and Egyptian governments in their attempts to bring about a ceasefire.
We also need a comprehensive plan to end this misery and to get to a long-term settlement. We are committed to working together with our international partners to develop a credible peace plan for the next phase in Gaza that establishes transitional governance and security arrangements, and ensures the delivery of humanitarian aid at the necessary scale. This must be accompanied by the withdrawal of Israeli forces and the removal of Hamas leadership from Gaza as key steps towards a negotiated two-state solution. We welcome the steps announced by President Abbas and these should be the basis for a comprehensive reform of the PA.
We have long been committed to recognising a state of Palestine. As our election manifesto said, Palestinian statehood is the inalienable right of the Palestinian people. It is not in the gift of any neighbour and is also essential to the long-term security of Israel. We are 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.
Hamas are a terrorist organisation responsible for the October 7th atrocities. They must never be rewarded. We have been unequivocal in our condemnation of those evil attacks, and our support for the right of the State of Israel to self-defence. Hamas must immediately release all the hostages, sign up to an immediate ceasefire, accept that they will play no part in the government of Gaza, and commit to disarmament.
We are determined to protect the viability of the two-state solution, and so we will recognise the state of Palestine in September before UNGA; unless the Israeli government takes substantive steps to end the appalling situation in Gaza and commits to a long term sustainable peace, including through allowing the UN to restart without delay the supply of humanitarian support to the people of Gaza to end starvation, agreeing to a ceasefire, and making clear there will be no annexations in the West Bank.
We will make an assessment ahead of UNGA on how far the parties have met these steps. No one side will have a veto on recognition through their actions or inactions.
But recognition by itself will not change the situation on the ground.
We are therefore taking additional immediate steps to alleviate the humanitarian situation, including air drops of humanitarian supplies along with Jordan, and getting injured children out of Gaza and into British hospitals alongside pressing strongly for UN deliveries of humanitarian assistance to resume.
We also believe that a ceasefire will not last without urgent work on governance and security in Gaza, and the prospect of a long-term political settlement. We are therefore preparing a plan with our key allies for longer-term political negotiations and a two-state solution.
Source – UK Government
Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s words on Gaza: Transcript of the speech, exactly as it was delivered
London, 29 July 2025
On the 7th of October 2023 Hamas perpetrated the worst massacre in Israel’s history.
Every day since then, the horror has continued.
The hostages are still being held today.
The Palestinian people have endured terrible suffering.
Now, in Gaza because of a catastrophic failure of aid, we see starving babies, children too weak to stand: Images that will stay with us for a lifetime.
The suffering must end.
Yesterday I discussed this with President Trump.
And we are mounting a major effort to get humanitarian supplies back in.
By air, and UK aid has been air dropped into Gaza today.
And – crucially – by land.
We need to see at least 500 trucks entering Gaza every day.
But ultimately – the only way to bring this humanitarian crisis to an end is through a long-term settlement.
So we are supporting the US, Egyptian and Qatari efforts to secure a vital ceasefire.
That ceasefire must be sustainable and it must lead to a wider peace plan, which we are developing with our international partners.
This plan will deliver security and proper governance in Gaza and pave the way for negotiations on a Two State Solution.
Our goal remains a safe and secure Israel, alongside a viable and sovereign Palestinian state. But right now – that goal is under pressure like never before.
I’ve always said we will recognise a Palestinian state as a contribution to a proper peace process, at the moment of maximum impact for the Two State Solution.
With that solution now under threat, this is the moment to act.
So today – as part of this process towards peace I can confirm the UK will recognise the state of Palestine by the United Nations General Assembly in September 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.
And this includes allowing the UN to restart the supply of aid, and making clear there will be no annexations in the West Bank.
Meanwhile, our message to the terrorists of Hamas is unchanged and unequivocal.
They must immediately release all the hostages, sign up to a ceasefire, disarm and accept that they will play no part in the government of Gaza.
We will make an assessment in September on how far the parties have met these steps.
But no one should have a veto on our decision.
So this is the way forward. We will keep working with all our international partners to end the suffering, get aid flooding into Gaza and deliver a more stable future for the Middle East.
Because I know that is what the British people desperately want to see.
Published 29 July 2025
Source – UK Government
Foreign Secretary David Lammy: Statement at the UN Two-State Solution conference on Gaza and the recognition of a Palestinian State
Statement by the Foreign Secretary delivered at the UN Conference on The Peaceful Settlement of the Question of Palestine and the Implementation of the Two-State Solution
Thank you, Chair.
We gather today at a dark moment.
660 days since the Israeli hostages were first cruelly taken by Hamas terrorists.
There is no possible justification for this suffering.
And only a clear duty that we help bring it to an end.
The devastation in Gaza is heart-breaking.
Children are starving, and Israel’s drip feeding of aid has horrified the world.
These are an affront to the values of the Charter of the United Nations.
Last week Britain led 28 countries in demanding an immediate end to this terrible war.
And set the region on a path to a better future.
That requires not just an immediate ceasefire.
But a plan to make it last.
Colleagues, our history means that Britain bears a special burden of responsibility to support the two-state solution.
In the last 12 months, the UK government has repeatedly taken action in the face of the current crisis.
We restored funding to UNRWA.
We suspended arms exports that could be used in Gaza.
We provided tens of millions of pounds in humanitarian assistance.
We signed a landmark agreement with the Palestinian Authority.
We stood up for the independence of the international courts.
We have delivered three sanctions packages on violent settlers.
And we suspended trade negotiations with the Israeli Government and sanctioned far-right Israeli Ministers for incitement.
Yet, dear friends, the situation continues to worsen.
And the two-state solution is in peril.
To reach that better future, we must first reflect on the past.
108 years ago, my predecessor as British Foreign Secretary, Arthur Balfour, signed the Declaration that bears his name.
It helped lay the foundations for a homeland for the Jewish people.
And Britain can be proud of that.
Our support for Israel, its right to exist and the security of its people is steadfast.
However, the Balfour declaration came with the solemn promise “that nothing shall be done, nothing which may prejudice the civil and religious rights” of the Palestinian people as well.
Colleagues, this has not been upheld and it is a historical injustice which continues to unfold.
As diplomats and politicians, we have become accustomed to uttering the words “a two-state solution”.
Countless times this Assembly and the Security Council has proclaimed that there must be a two-state resolution.
Resolution after resolution.
Resolution 181.
Resolution 242.
Resolution 446.
Resolution 1515.
Resolution 2334.
These are not numbers on a page.
But the conviction of a frustrated world.
Chairs,
Hamas must never be rewarded for its monstrous attack on October 7.
It must immediately release the hostages, agree to an immediate ceasefire, accept it will have no role in governing Gaza and commit to disarmament.
But Hamas are not the Palestinian people.
And there is no contradiction between support for Israel’s security and support for Palestinian statehood.
Indeed, the opposite is true.
Let me be clear: the Netanyahu government’s rejection of a two-state solution is wrong – it’s wrong morally and it’s wrong strategically.
It harms the interests of the Israeli people, closing off the only path to a just and lasting peace.
That is why we are determined to protect the viability of the two-state solution.
And so, it is with the hand of history on our shoulders that His Majesty’s Government therefore intends to recognise the State of Palestine when the UN General Assembly gathers in September here in New York.
We will do it unless the Israeli government acts to end the appalling situation in Gaza, ends its military campaign and commits to a long-term sustainable peace based on a two-state solution.
Our demands on Hamas also remain absolute and unwavering.
Before the UN General Assembly gathers, we will take stock of how far the parties have come in meeting these steps.
No one side will have a veto on recognition through their actions or inactions.
But recognition by itself will not change the situation on the ground.
That is why we are taking immediate steps as well.
Like air dropping humanitarian supplies along with our partners in Jordan, getting injured children into British hospitals and pressing for the resumption of UN’s humanitarian assistance.
We also believe that a lasting ceasefire requires urgent progress on governance and security in Gaza.
We are therefore working with allies on a plan for long-term political negotiations and a two-state solution.
Chair,
There is no better vision for the future of the region than two states.
Israelis living within secure borders, recognised and at peace with their neighbours, free from the threat of terrorism.
And Palestinians living in their own state, in dignity and security, free of occupation.
The decades-long conflict between Israelis and Palestinians cannot be managed or contained.
It must now be resolved.
Britain is ready to play its full and historic part.
Source – UK Government