London, United Kingdom – Prime Minister Keir Starmer was due to meet Palestinian Authority president Mahmud Abbas Monday, as the UK government edges towards recognising a Palestinian state.
Several countries, including Britain have pledged to recognise a Palestinian state during the UN General Assembly later this month.
Starmer’s government said it will take the step if Israel fails to agree to a ceasefire in the devastating Gaza war, triggered by Palestinian group Hamas’s October 2023 attack.
The British leader has indicated he will do that in the coming weeks unless the Israeli government takes “substantive” steps to end the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and commit to a long-term, sustainable peace.
Starmer has also demanded that Hamas releases all the Israeli hostages it is holding.
Abbas, 89, arrived in London on Sunday night for a three-day visit.
His officials said he intended to use his talks with Starmer at Downing Street to push for an end to “the aggression, destruction and starvation being inflicted upon the Palestinian people”.
The prime minister’s spokesman said: “We continue to intend to recognise the state of Palestine before the UN general assembly, subject to the conditions that we set out.
“We’ve been very clear that Hamas will play no role in the future governance of Gaza or the West Bank, and must commit to disarmament,” he added.
Abbas was barred from attending the general assembly in New York by the US State Department last month.
The Palestinian Authority is a civilian ruling body in areas of the West Bank, where about three million Palestinians live — as well as around half a million Israelis occupying settlements considered illegal under international law.
Meanwhile, Israeli President Isaac Herzog will arrive in the UK on Tuesday for an official visit, his office announced Monday.
It is not clear whether Herzog will meet Starmer during his visit, which aims to “show solidarity with the Jewish community, which is under severe attack and facing a wave of antisemitism”.
The Israeli president is due to meet Jewish community organisations as well as “members of parliament, public representatives (and) influencers” according to his office.
Ties between Britain and Israel are increasingly strained over the conflict in Gaza, with London suspending trade talks and some arms exports, as well as deciding not to invite Israeli officials to the UK’s biggest arms showcase which also opens on Tuesday.
