Keir Starmer, the newly appointed Prime Minister of Britain, reiterated the UK’s support for establishing an independent Palestinian state during a recent phone call with Mahmoud Abbas, the head of the Palestinian Authority.
The call, which took place on July 7th, highlighted Starmer’s commitment to advancing the Middle East peace process by emphasizing priorities such as ceasefire implementation, the release of Israeli hostages held by Hamas, expedited aid delivery to Gaza, and financial support for Palestinian institutions.
Starmer, who led the Labour Party and assumed office following Britain’s parliamentary elections on July 5th, has long advocated for formally recognizing Palestine as part of the “two states, two nations” framework.
Despite Labour securing a significant victory in the elections, the party faced criticism for its performance in Muslim-majority areas and for perceived shortcomings in addressing the Gaza ceasefire in the context of the Hamas-Israel conflict.
In addition to his conversation with Abbas, Starmer also engaged with Benjamin Netanyahu, the Prime Minister of Israel, on the same day.
During this discussion, Starmer emphasized the urgent need for a ceasefire in the region, called for the safe return of Israeli hostages held in Gaza, and underscored the importance of increasing humanitarian aid to Palestinian civilians.
He expressed deep concern over escalating tensions between the Israeli army and Hezbollah in Lebanon, urging all parties involved to exercise caution.
Meanwhile, on June 4th, the Slovenian Parliament formally recognized Palestine as an independent state through a majority vote.
This decision follows similar recognitions by Spain, Norway, and Ireland in past years, highlighting ongoing international support for Palestinian statehood despite opposition from Israeli officials such as Israel Katz, the Foreign Minister, who criticized these acknowledgements as detrimental to efforts to secure the release of hostages held by Hamas.
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