Sir Keir Starmer has announced that the UK will formally recognise Palestine as a state. The Mail has the details.

The Prime Minister this afternoon said that the UK would press on with its symbolic gesture because of the Netanyahu Government’s failure to agree to a ceasefire in the occupied enclave.

In a video posted on social media he said the move was intended “to revive the hope of peace for the Palestinians and Israelis”. 

But the move, to be formally ratified at the UN general Assembly next week, has led to a torrent of criticism from those who say it rewards Hamas for its terrorism against Israel which triggered the bloody conflict.

Sir Keir has also been warned that it will harm the UK’s standing in the world and the PM was accused of pandering to his restive Left-wing backbenchers today, after David Lammy admitted there was style but no substance to the move.  

The Deputy Prime Minister said that the incendiary move was about giving the Palestinian people “hope”.

But he admitted that it would do nothing to end the fighting or feed tens of thousands of people in the grip of famine as the Israelis continue their bloody assault. 

In a co-ordinated move, Canada and Australia also moved to recognise Palestine today with statements by PMs Mark Carney and Anthony Albanese. France and Portugal are also expected to follow suit.

A spokeswoman for the Israeli PM Netanyahu today said it remained committed to achieving its war goals and said the UK decision was “absurd and simply a reward for terrorism”.

“The Prime Minister [Netanyahu] has made it very clear to me that his message to nations that are taking the avenue to disregard the sheer utter chaos Hamas has thrusted Gaza into and Israel, including our soldiers, families and of course, hostages still held in Hamas captivity, that the people of Israel aren’t going to commit suicide because of the political needs of European politics,” she told a press conference.

Shadow Chancellor Mel Stride said Sir Keir was “totally naïve” if he thought his ultimatum would force Israel to alter course. 

“What has happened is that Keir Starmer’s backbenchers and members of his cabinet have forced him into this position, to make this move,” he told Sky News.

‘“It] has taken the leverage off the table. And that’s not good foreign policy.”

During his state visit to the UK, Donald Trump said he has “a disagreement with the Prime Minister” about recognition.

A group of families of hostages taken in the October 7th attack warned that recognition could hamper efforts to release them, and claimed Hamas would be “celebrating”.

There are also fears it would impact Britain’s intelligence-sharing relationship with Israel. 

Worth reading in full.

Stop Press: Legal experts are warning that Keir Starmer’s move to recognise a state of Palestine could spark calls for the UK to cough up more than £2 trillion in reparations, according to the Mail.