Keir Starmer uses social media video to officially recognise Palestinian state as he hides from taking journalists' questions

Both the Israeli and US Governments have condemned the UK’s decision, saying it is a diplomatic gift for Hamas.

The move comes ahead of the UN General Assembly this week, with other nations, including Australia and Canada, making similar moves shortly before Sir Keir’s announcement.

LATEST DEVELOPMENTS

• Ex-MI6 chief tears into Keir Starmer’s move to recognise Palestine: ‘I am ASHAMED!'
• Donald Trump warns 'bad things' will happen unless Taliban 'gives back' airbase
• Migrant protests rock European city as police cars set ablaze and officers injured

In the video posted to X, the Prime Minister says: “In the face of the growing horror in the Middle East, we are acting to keep alive the possibility of peace and a two-state solution.

“That means a safe and secure Israel, alongside a viable Palestinian state. At the moment, we have neither.

“Ordinary people, Israeli and Palestinian, deserve to live in peace. To try and rebuild their lives free from violence and suffering. That is what the British people desperately want to see.

“Yet, almost two years after the barbaric attacks of October 7, hostages are still held by the terrorists of Hamas. Recent images showed the hostages suffering and emaciated. Hamas even refused to release all the bodies of the dead.

“I have met British families of the hostages. I see the torture they endure each and every day. Pain that strikes dead in people’s hearts across Israel and here in the United Kingdom. The hostages must be released immediately and we will keep fighting to bring them home.

“Let’s be frank. Hamas is a brutal, terror organisation. Our call for a two-state solution is the exact opposite of their hateful vision. It means Hamas can have no future. No role in Government. No role in security. We have already proscribed and sanctioned Hamas and we will go further.

“I have directed work to sanction other Hamas figures in the coming weeks. Meanwhile, the man-made humanitarian crisis in Gaza reaches new depths.

“The Israeli Government’s relentless and increasing bombardment of Gaza, the offensive of recent weeks, the starvation and devastation are utterly intolerable. Tens of thousands have been killed."

The UK Government has acknowledged that recognising a Palestinian state will not in itself end the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

But the Prime Minister insisted in the video that the move is necessary to keep alive the hope of a two-state solution, which he says will see Israel existing alongside a Palestinian state.

“We have evacuated the first group of sick and injured children to the United Kingdom to be treated by the NHS and we continue to increase our humanitarian support, but still, nowhere near enough aid is getting through", he said.

"We call again on the Israeli Government to lift the unacceptable restrictions at the border. Stop these cruel tactics and let aid surge in.

“With the actions of Hamas, the Israeli Government escalating the conflict and settlement building being accelerated in the West Bank, the hope of a two-state solution is fading. We cannot let that light go out."

His move has not been unanimously accepted with Israeli President Benjamin Netanyahu saying branding the move “absurd” and “simply a reward for terrorism”.

READ MORE: Britain bans Israelis from enrolling at prestigious defence academy: 'A discriminatory act!'

A spokesperson for Campaign Against Antisemitism said: “This is Sir Keir Starmer’s Neville Chamberlain moment. Apparently the promises to do ‘everything possible’ to bring the hostages home meant nothing. The Government could make recognition conditional on the return of the hostages — at the absolute very least — but Sir Keir refuses even to do that, so urgent is the need to delight terrorists and their supporters, while betraying the families of the hostages whom he has looked in the eye and earnestly pledged to help.

“The message could not be clearer: murder, rape, kidnapping and indoctrination are legitimate paths to diplomatic gain — Hamas leaders have called this moment ‘the fruit of 7th October’. Additional sanctions against Hamas will have zero impact and do nothing to blunt the delight amongst Hamas’ leaders. This is not statesmanship or peacemaking; it is the deliberate betrayal of those taken hostage and slain on 7th October 2023 and a reward that has delighted Hamas, Palestinian Islamic Jihad, and their supporters.

“This morally reprehensible decision will surely prolong war by encouraging those terrorists to continue to hold hostages and to perpetrate further terrorism because this act of recognition is a declaration that the UK rewards violence against Jews. Polling shows that all but a small minority of British people recognise that and do not support this shameful betrayal of this country’s values.

“We fear that our Government’s virtue signalling will have an impact here at home too, as Islamist terrorists around the world digest the lessons from this betrayal. History shows that appeasement eventually brings the aggressor to your door.”

READ MORE: Donald Trump rages at Israel after devastating strike on Hamas chiefs - 'I tried to stop it!'

Philip Ingram MBE said on GB News that the “shameful” move has been done to placate Labour backbenchers.

“It’s very worrying indeed”, he told Dawn Neesom.

Ex-MI6 boss lashes out at Labour's 'ridiculous decision' to recognise Palestine - WATCH

“People think by waving a Palestinian flag, they are supporting the Palestinian people, when in fact it’s Hamas. It’s shameful. Palestinian people are suffering and they are suffering at the hands of Hamas more than anyone else."

Sir Keir, however, said in his video message the “moment has now arrived” to recognise a Palestinian state.

EARLIER THIS MONTH: Israeli President insists UK and Israel are allies in GB News interview after ‘thorny’ talks with Keir Starmer

He said: “Today, to revive the hope of peace and a two-state solution, I state clear as Prime Minister of this great country that the United Kingdom formally recognises the State of Palestine.

“We recognised the State of Israel more than 75 years ago as a homeland for the Jewish people.

“Today we join over 150 countries who recognise a Palestinian state also.

“A pledge to the Palestinian and Israeli people that there can be a better future.”

A spokeswoman for Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Hamas did not want a state alongside Israel “they want a state instead of Israel”.

She said Mr Netanyahu’s message to nations recognising Palestine was “the people of Israel aren’t going to commit suicide because of the political needs of European politics”.

Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch tweeted in response: "Disastrous. Absolutely disastrous. We will all rue the day this decision was made. Rewarding terrorism with no conditions whatsoever put in place for Hamas.

"It leaves hostages languishing in Gaza and does nothing to stop the suffering of innocent people caught in this war. It is because Labour cannot fix the big problems in our society that they focus on discredited student union campaigns to appease the hard left.

- They cannot fix the NHS, so they push assisted suicide.

- They cannot create jobs for young people so they give them votes at 16.

- They cannot sort out immigration but they will recognise Palestine instead.

"And so on. This is the same man who paid £35bn of reparations to Mauritius along with the surrender of the Chagos Islands. Everything we are seeing is a consequence of a Prime Minister has no plan for the country and no judgement.

"He will spend the next four years delivering the hobby horses of the Labour left to stay in power and leave a HUGE mess for us to clean up."

The issue is likely to dominate the gathering of world leaders at the United Nations in the coming days, with France expected to formally recognise Palestine on Monday at the UN General Assembly.

The move will see the UK recognise a Palestinian state based provisionally on 1967 borders.

READ MORE: Benjamin Netanyahu slaps down 'weak' Keir Starmer again in scathing verdict of PM's Palestine plan

This was before Israel occupied the Gaza Strop and the West Bank.

Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey said it was a “historic day” adding: “The Government now needs to follow through and do all it can to secure a ceasefire, an end to the cycle of violence and a two-state solution which is the only way to ensure a permanent end to the conflict.”