Starmer calls Israeli blockade intolerable but dodges call to recognise Palestine

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has called the Israeli blockade on Gaza "intolerable" and said his government is working towards a two-state solution.

Starmer made the remarks in response to a question in parliament by Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey, who said: "For more than ten weeks Israeli forces have blocked food, water and medicine getting into Gaza.

"There is now a humanitarian catastrophe with two million people at risk of famine and one in five facing starvation.

"Rather than ending this crisis, the Netanyahu government is planning to seize all of Gaza indefinitely."

Davey continued: "Now I know the prime minister will agree that the blockade must end, and I'm sure he will agree that it would be appalling if Netanyahu proceeds with that escalation.

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"But will he act now and pick up the phone to press [US President] Trump for a joint plan to recognise Palestine and get food, water and medicine into Gaza?"

Starmer replied: "Well, I thank him for raising this because the situation in Gaza is simply intolerable and getting worse, and we are working with other leaders urgently to bring about a rapid and unimpeded flow of humanitarian aid into Gaza, which is desperately needed, obviously alongside the release of hostages, and to get back to a ceasefire.

"And that work is going on through my team 24/7."

The prime minister responded to Davey's call for him to press President Donald Trump for a plan to recognise a Palestinian state, saying: "I  still fundamentally believe that however remote it may seem at the moment, the pathway to a two-state solution is the only way for settled and lasting peace in the Middle East.

"And we will continue with our allies to pursue that path."

The exchange came amid speculation that Britain and France could recognise a Palestinian state at a conference on the two-state solution in June.

Earlier this year British Foreign Secretary David Lammy insisted that the UK would only recognise a Palestinian state "when we know it’s going to happen and it’s in sight".

In late April, Lammy acknowledged for the first time that the UK is in discussion with France and Saudi Arabia on the topic. 

On Tuesday, Middle East Eye revealed that the UK privately decided in 2014 that it would consider recognising a Palestinian state if Israel advanced with the contentious E1 settlement project.

Israel is currently poised to move forward with the settlement plan, which would effectively split the occupied West Bank in two.

Several Labour and independent MPs told MEE on Tuesday that the UK must recognise a Palestinian state immediately, before the new settlement project makes one impossible.

middleeasteye.net