Under pressure on domestic and international stage to act on Gaza, a shrug from the president allowed Starmer to make pledge
Middle East crisis – live updates
It was, in the end, an off-the-cuff remark from Donald Trump that moved the dial.
“I’m not going to take a position,” the US president said when asked in Scotland about pressure on Keir Starmer to recognise a Palestinian state. “I don’t mind him taking a position. I’m looking for getting people [in Gaza] fed right now.”
Within 36 hours, after an emergency meeting of his cabinet, the prime minister had set out a plan to revive fading hopes of a two-state solution – and recognise Palestine by the end of September.
