Starmer Says Palestinians Have ‘Undeniable Right’ to Their Own State

Prime Minister Keir Starmer (L) meets Scottish First Minister and SNP leader John Swinney (not in frame) during a visit to Edinburgh, Scotland, on July 7, 2024. Scott Heppell - WPA Pool/Getty Images

The new prime minister, Sir Keir Starmer, has said there was an “undeniable right” for a state of Palestine to be recognised as part of a Middle East peace process.

One of the few downsides for Sir Keir in Labour’s landslide election victory was that several Labour MPs lost their seats as a result of a surge in support for pro-Palestinian independent candidates appealing mainly to Muslim voters.

On Sunday, Sir Keir rang Mahmoud Abbas, the president of the Palestinian Authority—which rules those parts of the West Bank which are not under Israeli control—and expressed his concern about the “ongoing suffering and devastating loss of life” in Gaza.

Sir Keir also spoke to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and stressed the need for a “clear and urgent” ceasefire, along with the return of the hostages still held by Hamas after the October 7 attacks.

Labour’s general election manifesto committed Sir Keir to recognising a Palestinian state as part of a two-state solution.

A Downing Street spokeswoman said, “The prime minister said he was pleased to be able to speak to President Abbas so early in his tenure, given the pressing issues in the region, ongoing suffering, and devastating loss of life in Gaza.”

Starmer’s Priority Is ‘Securing a Ceasefire’

“The prime minister updated President Abbas on his immediate priorities, including securing a ceasefire, the return of hostages, an increase and acceleration in humanitarian aid and financial support for the Palestinian Authority,” she added.

“Discussing the importance of reform, and ensuring international legitimacy for Palestine, the prime minister said that his longstanding policy on recognition to contribute to a peace process had not changed, and it was the undeniable right of Palestinians,” she added.

Downing Street said when Sir Keir—whose wife is Jewish—spoke to Mr. Netanyahu he, “reiterated his condolences for the tragic loss of life following the October attacks.”

But he also said there was a, “clear and urgent need for a ceasefire, the return of hostages and an immediate increase in the volume of humanitarian aid reaching civilians.”

Sir Keir spent much of the past five years trying to expunge antisemitism from the Labour Party.

(L to R) Zosia Lewis, Leonorah Ward and Daniel Formentin protesting outside the home of Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer in London on April 9, 2024 Youth Demand/PA Wire

He also refused to allow former leader, Jeremy Corbyn, to be allowed back into the party after he refused to accept a report by the Equality and Human Rights Commission in 2020 which cited “serious failings in the Labour party leadership in addressing antisemitism.”

Mr. Corbyn, who said the issue had been, “dramatically overstated for political reasons,” stood as an independent in the general election and retained his seat at Islington North, defeating Labour’s Praful Nargund by almost 8,000 votes.

Sir Keir also said he was concerned about the situation on the Lebanese border where the Israel Defense Force (IDF) has been exchanging artillery fire with the Iran-backed Hezbollah.

Lammy: ‘We Want To See Those Hostages Out’

The new foreign secretary, David Lammy, said during a visit to Berlin over the weekend: “I want to get back to a balanced position on Israel and Gaza. We’ve been very clear that we want to see a ceasefire ... We want to see those hostages out.”

“The fighting has to stop, the aid has got to get in, and I will use all diplomatic efforts to ensure that we get to that ceasefire.”

The Hamas-controlled health ministry in Gaza has said 38,000 Palestinians have been killed since the conflict began.

Sir Keir was heavily criticised, especially in the early weeks of the conflict, for his unfailing support for Israel.

In October he was forced to clarify remarks he made about Israel’s “right to self-defence” and said he did not mean they should withhold water or humanitarian aid to Gaza.

Last month three pro-Palestinian protesters were given suspended sentences after they mounted a protest outside Sir Keir’s home in north London.

In Thursday’s general election, four independents standing on a pro-Palestinian ticket defeated Labour candidates in four constituencies with a largely Muslim electorate—Leicester South, Birmingham Perry Barr, Blackburn, and Dewsbury and Batley.

PA Media contributed to this report.