LONDON: UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has condemned Israel with his strongest comments yet, as pressure mounts within and outside the government for Britain to formally recognize a Palestinian state.
Starmer’s remarks came after French President Emmanuel Macron said his country would recognize a Palestinian state, and as the two leaders, along with Germany’s Friedrich Merz, were set to hold an emergency call on the issue.
“The suffering and starvation unfolding in Gaza is unspeakable and indefensible. While the situation has been grave for some time, it has reached new depths and continues to worsen. We are witnessing a humanitarian catastrophe,” the UK prime minister said.
For the first time with reference to Israel, his statement failed to mention the country’s right to defend itself, or the hostages held by Hamas and other militant groups.
Starmer “appeared to have lost his patience with Benjamin Netanyahu’s Israeli government,” The Independent said, adding that the PM “appeared to be on the cusp of being prepared to recognize a Palestinian state.”
