The United Kingdom has issued a stark ultimatum to Israel, warning that it will recognize a Palestinian state by September unless Israel takes “substantive steps” to end the humanitarian catastrophe unfolding in Gaza and agrees to a ceasefire in its nearly two-year war with Hamas.
The announcement by British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Tuesday drew a swift and scathing rebuke from Israel, further deepening diplomatic tensions at a time when Gaza teeters on the brink of a full-scale famine and the civilian death toll continues to climb at an alarming rate.
Starmer’s warning came just hours after a report by the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) concluded that “famine thresholds” have been reached in much of Gaza, urging immediate international action to prevent widespread starvation. The IPC said it would now conduct a formal analysis to determine if Gaza can officially be declared as experiencing a famine.
“Mounting evidence shows that widespread starvation, malnutrition and disease are driving a rise in hunger-related deaths,” the IPC report stated.
According to Gaza’s Health Ministry, at least 147 people, including 88 children, have died from hunger-related causes, mostly in recent weeks. Harrowing images of emaciated children have sparked global outrage, with even U.S. President Donald Trump acknowledging the crisis. Speaking aboard Air Force One on Tuesday, Trump said, “Many people are starving. We’ll be setting up new food centres.”
In a statement issued after holding phone calls with both Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, Starmer told his Cabinet that Britain would formally recognize Palestinian statehood at the United Nations General Assembly in September unless Israel immediately:
- Ends the humanitarian crisis in Gaza
- Commits to a ceasefire
- Halts annexation activities in the West Bank
- Agrees to a genuine peace process leading to a two-state solution
“This is a bold and historic stance,” Abbas said via the Palestinian news agency WAFA, praising Starmer’s decision as a step toward justice and accountability.
Netanyahu, however, lambasted the British position, posting on X: “Starmer’s decision rewards Hamas’s monstrous terrorism & punishes its victims. A jihadist state on Israel’s border TODAY will threaten Britain TOMORROW.”
Trump, who met with Starmer in Scotland on Monday, told reporters he “did not mind” if Britain pursued recognition of Palestine but later clarified he does not support rewarding Hamas.
Despite growing pressure on Israel, Trump’s administration has signaled no intention of supporting Palestinian statehood in the near term. Trump has maintained a vague stance since returning to office in January 2025, emphasizing Israeli security while making limited commitments on a two-state solution.
The Israeli government announced over the weekend that it would ease humanitarian access into Gaza. However, the U.N. World Food Programme said on Tuesday that it still lacked the necessary permits to deliver aid at scale, even after Israel initiated brief humanitarian pauses in fighting on Sunday.
Foreign Minister Gideon Saar denied claims that Israel was pursuing a starvation policy, calling them “lies,” though he acknowledged the situation in Gaza was “tough.” He added that 5,000 aid trucks had entered the territory in the last two months and that Israel would cooperate with airdrops, a method international aid groups criticize as ineffective.
Saar also blamed Hamas for stealing aid, an accusation both the militant group and the United Nations have rejected. The U.N. maintains that it has seen no significant evidence of systematic diversion of aid by Hamas.
The war began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas militants launched an unprecedented cross-border attack, killing about 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages, marking the deadliest day in Israel’s history. Since then, Israel’s offensive has killed over 60,000 Palestinians, according to figures from Palestinian health authorities. These numbers are widely cited by U.N. agencies and the World Health Organization, although they do not distinguish between militants and civilians.
Thousands more are feared buried under rubble, particularly in areas like Nuseirat refugee camp, where overnight Israeli airstrikes reportedly killed at least 30 people, including 14 women and 12 children, according to doctors at Al-Awda Hospital.
Meanwhile, 13 civilians were killed on Salahudeen Road while waiting for aid trucks , a grim indicator of the desperation and danger facing Gaza’s residents.
Despite the staggering death toll and growing diplomatic pressure, Israeli ground operations continue, with 454 Israeli soldiers killed since the invasion began. The government insists that dismantling Hamas remains a strategic priority.
Britain’s announcement follows a similar declaration by France, which said last week it too would recognize Palestinian statehood in September. These moves have further isolated Israel diplomatically and increased the pressure for a resolution to the conflict.
Though largely symbolic, given Israel’s military control over Palestinian territories, recognition of Palestinian statehood by major Western powers would mark a significant shift in the global approach to the conflict and could reshape future peace negotiations.
As the September deadline looms, all eyes are now on Israel’s next steps. Unless substantial changes are made to halt the devastation in Gaza, Britain’s move could become a turning point in the decades-long Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and a significant challenge to Israel’s standing on the world stage.
Written By Rodney Mbua
