Britain is “actively working on an international peace plan” for Gaza under which it will recognise Palestinian statehood as part of the process, No 10 Downing Street has confirmed.
Government sources have also confirmed Jonathan Powell, the National Security Adviser, has been involved in the “plan for peace”, working with several other countries.
There have been reports that the UK would immediately recognise Palestine as a country, as soon as Prime Minister Keir Starmer recalled his cabinet for an emergency meeting.
However, his official spokesman has played down suggestions that the cabinet meeting, potentially on Tuesday, would lead to an announcement on Palestine.
“Out of the cabinet meeting we can expect more actions and next steps,” he said. “We are putting forward a plan for peace.”
That proposal will be thrashed out with Germany and France, whose leaders Mr Starmer has been in close contact with in recent days. It will also be raised with US President Donald Trump during his meeting with the Prime Minister in Scotland on Monday and co-ordinated with Arab states.
The aim is to transition from a ceasefire to a sustainable two-state solution, with the recognition of a Palestinian state “being a key step”, the Prime Minister’s spokesman said. “There has to be sustainable and lasting peace, and recognition has to be on the path to peace."
Some members of the cabinet have already come out in support of recognition including Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner and Home Secretary Yvette Cooper. They have, it is reported, requested the government follows France’s lead in stating that it will recognise Palestinian statehood.
The cabinet meeting will focus specifically on Gaza and Mr Starmer may yet consider a change in Britain’s position on Palestine if he comes under significant pressure from his cabinet.
The UK leader has previously insisted that UK recognition of Palestine was a question of “when, not if” and would be part of formal steps towards a two-state solution as well as a co-ordinated international move.
But with France's unilateral declaration that it would recognise Palestine, becoming the 148th country to do so, Britain’s co-ordinated approach had been looking tenuous.
Further pressure will mount on Downing Street on Monday as the UN holds a joint conference on a two-state solution hosted by France and Saudi Arabia on Palestine, with UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy attending. He is understood to have privately urged the Prime Minster to recognise Palestine.
The mounting horror at the dire humanitarian crisis in Gaza, where people are now starving, has given further impetus to the recognition lobby. The number of MPs who have signed a cross-party letter demanding recognition has increased from 221 to 255.
“It’s a question of when we do that as part of a process,” said James Murray, a Treasury minister. But he added that recognition would have to “galvanise change” because despite many countries having already announced the move “people are still suffering desperately in Gaza”.
Those in the pro-Israel lobby have criticised the proposal for being “symbolic” and rewarding Hamas for the October 7 attacks.
