Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer (R) speaks as US President Donald Trump (L) listens during a joint press conference following their meeting at Chequers, in Aylesbury, central England AFP
The prime minister said recognition was “part of that overall package that hopefully takes us from the appalling situation right now to the outcome of a safe and secure Israel, which we do not have, and a viable Palestinian state.”
At Chequers on Thursday, Starmer stressed the urgency of reaching a ceasefire and easing the humanitarian crisis in Gaza under Israel’s blockade.
“We absolutely agree on the need for peace and a road map, because the situation in Gaza is intolerable,” he said. “We have to get to that ceasefire and we have to increase humanitarian aid in.”
For his part, Trump restated his position, telling reporters: “I have a disagreement with the prime minister on that score – one of our few disagreements.”
"Ending wars is a complicated matter... Israel and Gaza are a complicated matter, but we will deal with it," added Trump, who has supported Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu's war on Gaza since taking office in January.
Starmer’s statements on seeking recognition of a Palestinian state come as Israel has launched its plan to occupy Gaza City, the most populous centre in the north of the Gaza Strip, and ethnically cleanse some one million Palestinians to the south of the territory.
In recent months, the British government has been facing growing domestic pressure to recognize Palestinian statehood and end all arms sales to Tel Aviv.
On 12 September, the UN General Assembly voted by an overwhelming majority for a declaration to begin irreversible steps towards a two-state solution between Israel and the Palestinians.
The seven-page declaration was endorsed by 142 countries. Ten countries opposed it, including Israel and its main ally, the US, while 12 others abstained.
Differences
Earlier in the week, London condemned the move to occupy Gaza’s largest city, calling it “reckless and utterly horrifying,” and warning it would lead to further civilian deaths and put Israeli captives at risk.
By contrast, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who is accompanying Trump in London, reiterated Washington’s firm support for Israel in its war against Gaza and assault on Gaza City during a visit to Israel.
Rubio dismissed recognition moves by Britain, France and other allies as “largely symbolic” and an “obstacle to peace.”
Several European countries have announced their intentions to recognize Palestinian statehood in the UN General Assembly session on 22 September, including France, Belgium, Luxembourg, and Slovenia.
Tel Aviv has refused to negotiate an end to the Gaza war or halt settlement expansion in the occupied West Bank, opting to forge ahead with its genocidal war on the Palestinians.
The meeting between Trump and Starmer comes two days after a United Nations inquiry commission affirmed that Israel was committing genocide in its Gaza war.
The Israeli war has killed more than 65,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children, and injured over 165,000 others, and destroyed most infrastructure in the strip.
In tandem, the ongoing Israeli blockade on humanitarian aid to Gaza has prompted the UN to declare famine in the strip, the first ever in the Middle East.
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