Starmer says UK will recognize Palestinian state unless Israel agrees ceasefire, ends Gaza suffering

LONDON (AP) — The U.K. will recognize a Palestinian state in September unless Israel agrees to a ceasefire in Gaza, allows the U.N. to bring in aid and takes other steps toward long-term peace, Prime Minister Keir Starmer said Tuesday.

Starmer, who is under mounting domestic pressure over the issue as scenes of hunger in Gaza horrify many Britons, convened a rare summertime Cabinet meeting to discuss the situation there. It came after he discussed the crisis with President Donald Trump during a meeting in Scotland on Monday.

Trump told reporters on Monday that he didn’t mind Starmer “taking a position” on Palestinian statehood. On his flight back to the U.S. on Tuesday, Trump said the two never discussed the U.K. potentially recognizing a Palestinian state.

“We have no view on that,” Trump said.

Starmer said that Britain will recognize a state of Palestine before the United Nations General Assembly, "unless the Israeli government takes substantive steps to end the appalling situation in Gaza, agree to a ceasefire and commit to a long-term, sustainable peace, reviving the prospect of a two-state solution.

"And this includes allowing the U.N. to restart the supply of aid, and making clear there will be no annexations in the West Bank," he said.

It seems highly unlikely that the government of Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu could meet the conditions, which cut to the heart of the most intractable issues in the conflict. Netanyahu rejects the two-state solution on both nationalistic and security grounds.

Israel's foreign ministry said it rejected the British statement.

“The shift in the British government’s position at this time, following the French move and internal political pressures, constitutes a reward for Hamas and harms efforts to achieve a ceasefire in Gaza and a framework for the release of hostages," the ministry said on X.

Starmer also repeated U.K. demands that Hamas release all the hostages it holds, agree to a ceasefire, disarm and “accept that they will play no part in the government of Gaza.”

Starmer said in a televised statement that his government will assess in September “how far the parties have met these steps” before making a final decision on recognition.

Britain has long supported the idea of an independent Palestinian state existing alongside Israel, but has said recognition should come as part of a negotiated two-state solution to the conflict.

But Starmer said Britain was willing to take the step because “the very idea of a two-state solution is reducing and feels further away today than it has for many years." He said that despite the set of conditions he set out, Britain believes that “statehood is the inalienable right of the Palestinian people.”

Pressure to formally recognize Palestinian statehood has mounted since French President Emmanuel Macron announced that his country will become the first major Western power to recognize a Palestinian state in September.

As with France, British recognition would be largely symbolic, but it’s part of a broader European and global shift against Israel and could increase diplomatic pressure for an end to the conflict.

More than 140 countries recognize a Palestinian state, including a dozen in Europe. Macron’s announcement last week made France the first Group of Seven country — and the largest in Europe — to take that step.

Europe has widely soured on Israel over Gaza. Countries including Ireland, Spain and the Netherlands have sought to aggressively pressure Israel to let in more aid and cease military operations.

More than 250 of the 650 lawmakers in the House of Commons have signed a letter urging the British government to recognize a Palestinian state.

Britain has a particular historic role as the former governing power of what was then Palestine and author of the 1917 Balfour Declaration, which backed the establishment of a Jewish homeland.

Foreign Secretary David Lammy said Britain bore a “special burden of responsibility."

“Our support for Israel, its right to exist, and the security of its people, is steadfast,” Lammy told a meeting at the U.N. in New York. “However, the Balfour Declaration came with the solemn promise that nothing shall be done, nothing which may prejudice the civil and religious rights of the Palestinian people as well. And colleagues, this has not been upheld, and it is a historical injustice which continues to unfold.”

France welcomed Britain's announcement.

″The United Kingdom is joining the momentum created by France for the recognition of the state of Palestine,” French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot posted on X.

Omar Awadallah, assistant to the Palestinian Authority’s foreign minister, welcomed Starmer’s announcement and said the U.K. has a historic responsibility to recognize a Palestine state and would be “correcting a historic injustice,” if it follows through in September. The Palestinian Authority has limited autonomy in pockets of the occupied West Bank.

Associated Press writers Angela Charlton in Paris, Chris Megerian, Ibrahim Hazboun, and Farnoush Amiri and Edith Lederer at the U.N. contributed to this story.

Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer delivers a statement inside No. 10 Downing Street on the day the cabinet was recalled to discuss the situation in Gaza, in London, Tuesday, July 29, 2025. (Toby Melville, Pool Photo via AP)

Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer delivers a statement inside No. 10 Downing Street on the day the cabinet was recalled to discuss the situation in Gaza, in London, Tuesday, July 29, 2025. (Toby Melville, Pool Photo via AP)

Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer delivers a statement inside No. 10 Downing Street on the day the cabinet was recalled to discuss the situation in Gaza, in London, Tuesday, July 29, 2025. (Toby Melville, Pool Photo via AP)

Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer delivers a statement inside No. 10 Downing Street on the day the cabinet was recalled to discuss the situation in Gaza, in London, Tuesday, July 29, 2025. (Toby Melville, Pool Photo via AP)

Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer speaks at a civil society summit in London, Thursday, July 17, 2025.(AP Photo/Frank Augstein, Pool)

People take part in a protest outside Downing Street in London, Tuesday July 29, 2025, as Prime Minister Keir Starmer gathered senior ministers for an urgent Cabinet meeting on Gaza. (Jonathan Brady/PA via AP)

Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer delivers a statement inside No. 10 Downing Street on the day the cabinet was recalled to discuss the situation in Gaza, in London, Tuesday, July 29, 2025. (Toby Melville, Pool Photo via AP)

Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer delivers a statement inside No. 10 Downing Street on the day the cabinet was recalled to discuss the situation in Gaza, in London, Tuesday, July 29, 2025. (Toby Melville, Pool Photo via AP)

Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer delivers a statement inside No. 10 Downing Street on the day the cabinet was recalled to discuss the situation in Gaza, in London, Tuesday, July 29, 2025. (Toby Melville, Pool Photo via AP)

Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer delivers a statement inside No. 10 Downing Street on the day the cabinet was recalled to discuss the situation in Gaza, in London, Tuesday, July 29, 2025. (Toby Melville, Pool Photo via AP)

Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer speaks at a civil society summit in London, Thursday, July 17, 2025.(AP Photo/Frank Augstein, Pool)

PARIS (AP) — Lens has gone from surprise front runner to serious title contender in Ligue 1.

Despite having modest resources, coach Pierre Sage has done remarkably well to keep his side ahead of defending champion Paris Saint-Germain.

Cash-rich PSG clinched a record-extending 13th league title last season while Lens won its only title in 1998. But Lens pushed PSG close in 2022-23 and finished runner-up by one point.

Lens is one point ahead of PSG this season and eight clear of third-place Marseille going into this weekend's 18th round.

Sage’s side will be confident of a club record-extending 10th straight win in all competitions when it hosts next-to-last Auxerre on Saturday.

Excellent teamwork and a strong defense are hallmarks of Lens which has five clean sheets in the past nine games.

PSG has a tricky home match against fourth-placed Lille on Friday at Parc des Princes, just days after being knocked out of the French Cup at home by capital city rival Paris FC.

Inconsistent Marseille is at mid-table Angers on Saturday and can ill afford to drop any points with Lille level on points.

Erratic Monaco has tumbled to mid-table and needs to bounce back with a home win against Lorient on Friday.

Lyon fans will be hoping to see Brazil forward Endrick in action at home to Brest on Sunday.

Endrick is on loan from Real Madrid until the end of the season and scored on his club debut in the French Cup on Sunday.

After missing 14 games due to a shoulder injury, Marseille forward Amine Gouiri is finding form. He scored twice and provided one assist in a 9-0 French Cup win on Tuesday.

Nantes has earned a reputation for having a strong youth academy and Tylel Tati is the latest product. The 17-year-old central defender looked assured in a 2-0 win at Marseille and looks set to feature at home to Paris FC on Sunday.

Paris FC forward Jonathan Ikoné's neat finish knocked titleholder PSG — his former club — out of the French Cup. Ikoné has yet to score in the league.

Paul Pogba's move to Monaco is not working out as hoped and the former France midfield star remains sidelined by a calf injury.

The 2018 World Cup winner has also dealt with thigh and ankle problems since joining the club in the offseason, after more than two years out of the game in a career derailed by injuries, off-field problems and a doping ban.

Pogba hoped to relaunch his career in time to make France's squad for the World Cup but has so far played only 30 minutes in three substitute appearances.

Monaco's long injury list includes defender Mohammed Salisu (ACL), winger Ansu Fati (hamstring), goalkeeper Lukas Hradecky (knee) and winger Takumi Minamino (ACL).

Forwards Jérémie Boga and Terem Moffi are reportedly trying to terminate their contracts with Nice after being attacked by their own supporters following a game on Nov. 30.

After a 3-1 defeat at Lorient made it six straight losses, Nice players were confronted by a large number of angry Nice fans when they returned to the club’s training and academy center.

Boga and Moffi took blows to the head and groin and have since been on medical leave. According to sports daily L'Équipe, their case is being examined by the French league legal committee.

AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

FILE - Fiorentina's Jonathan Ikone, left, celebrates with Christian Kouame after scoring the 2-0 goal during the Europa Conference League opening phase soccer match between Fiorentina and LASK at the Artemio Franchi Stadium in Florence, Italy, Thursday Dec. 12, 2024. (Massimo Paolone/LaPresse via AP, File)

FILE - Monaco's Paul Pogba stands on the touchline as players warm-up before a Champions League opening phase soccer match between Monaco and Tottenham Hotspur in Monaco, Wednesday, Oct. 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Philippe Magoni, file)

Marseille's Amine Gouiri, right, and PSG's Marquinhos, left. battle for the ball during the French Super Cup soccer match between PSG and Marseille in Kuwait City, Kuwait, Thursday, Jan. 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Jaber Abdulkhaleg)

PSG's head coach Luis Enrique gives instructions during the French Ligue 1 soccer match between Paris Saint-Germain and Paris FC in Paris, Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena)

FILE - Lens' head coach Pierre Sage celebrates with players after the French League One soccer match between Lens and Marseille in Lens, France, Saturday, Oct. 25, 2025. (AP Photo/Jean-Francois Badias, File)