David Lammy will tell MPs on Monday that the UK still intends to recognise a Palestinian state next month, with Israel having shown no sign of meeting the government’s demands.
The foreign secretary will say in a Commons statement that government officials intend to carry out a formal assessment in the coming days of whether Israel has complied with the tests set out by the prime minister, Keir Starmer, last month.
But with Benjamin Netanyahu’s government continuing to harden its position in respect to Gaza and the West Bank, the foreign secretary will confirm that Britain remains on the “pathway” to recognising Palestine.
One UK official said: “We will assess all the factors relevant to recognition. But as things stand, we’re on a pathway to recognition later this month.”
Starmer said in August that the UK would recognise Palestine before the UN general assembly, which starts on 9 September, unless Israel met a series of preconditions.
Those included taking “substantive steps” to end the war in Gaza, agreeing a ceasefire and committing not to annex parts of the West Bank.
Far from taking steps towards satisfying any of those demands, however, Netanyahu has shown signs of violating them further.
Reuters reported on Sunday that Israel was considering annexation in the West Bank if France, the UK and other countries push ahead with recognising Palestine. Israeli officials said the subject was on the agenda for Netanyahu’s cabinet meeting on Sunday, but would not say where or when annexation could happen.
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The Foreign Office has just over a week to complete its formal assessment of Israel’s position. Senior government officials say the timing of the British recognition is being driven less by that process and more by diplomatic concerns that the government should be seen to be acting in concert with France.
Lammy warned on Sunday that the humanitarian situation in Gaza, where UN-backed experts recently declared a famine to be taking place, was a “man-made catastrophe” caused by Israel’s refusal to let in aid deliveries.
“The humanitarian situation in Gaza remains catastrophic, with famine in Gaza City and women and girls bearing the brunt of the suffering,” the foreign secretary said in a statement.
“The UK is doing all we can to improve the situation but we remain crystal clear: for aid to have impact, Israel must ensure it is allowed in and delivered safely and securely to civilians in desperate need.”
The government announced on Sunday an extra £3m to provide midwives and emergency medical supplies for new mothers in Gaza. But it said the aid would only reach the people who needed it if Israel allowed much greater humanitarian access to the region.
Lammy said: “This funding can only have maximum impact if the government of Israel allows it.
“Israel must ensure protection of civilians including healthcare staff and health infrastructure, and enable the delivery of life-saving medicines, medical equipment and healthcare supplies into Gaza.”
