Britain’s recognition of a Palestinian state helped to secure the ceasefire deal in Gaza, Prime Minister Keir Starmer claimed during his address to the House of Commons on Tuesday.
Starmer’s appearance in the Commons came shortly after he returned from the signing of Trump's Gaza Peace Plan in Egypt. While there, President Trump's Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff said the UK played a vital role "in assisting and coordinating efforts that have led us to this historic day," particularly citing the "tireless efforts" of the UK's National Security Adviser Jonathan Powell.
Starmer told Commons that he was “proud” of Witkoff’s acknowledgment of Britain’s role: “He knows absolutely the role we played, and this house should be proud that we played that role.”
The prime minister, however, emphasized that the deal would not have come to fruition without Trump, calling it “his peace deal.” He also confirmed that he had discussed recognition of Palestine with Trump during the latter’s visit to the UK. “That’s what grown-up responsible partners do,” he told Commons.
While some, including Witkoff, have commended the UK’s role in achieving a deal, others have been more critical.
US ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee called the UK “delusional” for claiming to have played a vital role in the Gaza deal, and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the UK’s recognition of Palestine delayed the Gaza ceasefire by up to two months.
Shadow Foreign Secretary Priti Patel concurred, telling the BBC: “I think we have to be honest about the fact that Britain has had no role, no role whatsoever.”
“I think it’s extraordinary that Keir Starmer apparently is going to Egypt tomorrow when we’ve got plenty of domestic issues that he should be resolving and sorting out,” she added.
Sharren Haskel denies UK's role
Sharren Haskel, Israel’s deputy foreign minister, told Sky News: “The declaration of the Palestinian state during a very sensitive time two months ago, when the teams were already around the table negotiating, when we truly believed we were able to reach a deal, the message that the UK government sent Hamas was the message that the longer they continue this war, [the more] they will be rewarded.”
Leader of the Opposition, Kemi Badenoch, responded to Starmer’s words in the Commons by saying she was “surprised” to hear the prime minister say in his statement that Palestinian state recognition was a contribution to this peace deal.
“We all know that the US Secretary of State Marco Rubio condemned this recognition, saying it had made ceasefire negotiations harder,” she added. “The truth is, as historic events have unfolded in the Middle East, Britain has been out of step with the US.”
Badenoch recalled how the UK’s decision to recognize a Palestinian state was praised by Hamas and condemned how it was not conditional on the release of the hostages still held in the tunnels of Gaza, something she said “rewarded terrorism.”
She told the Commons that while “there is much to be hopeful for in the Middle East if the Abraham Accords are expanded, [and if there is] diplomatic normalization of Israel with the Arab world, it saddens me that the prime minister’s statement does not appear to show that the UK was at the heart of any of these efforts specifically.”
“It is quite clear that UK relations with Israel have been strained by the actions of this government,” Badenoch added.