Government statement on the humanitarian crisis in Gaza
and the recognition of a Palestinian State.
Our overwhelming concern is for the Israeli 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.
