A Cabinet minister has dismissed suggestions of a Government split over when to recognise a Palestinian state. Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds insisted there was "no split" within the Labour leadership despite differing public statements from senior ministers.
Sir Keir Starmer faces mounting pressure to immediately recognise Palestinian statehood amid the ongoing crisis in Gaza. Israel announced at the weekend it would suspend fighting in three areas of Gaza for 10 hours daily and open secure routes for aid delivery.
Ministers signal different approaches
Health Secretary Wes Streeting has called for accelerated recognition, urging action "while there's still a state of Palestine left to recognise". Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood said the Government wants recognition "in contribution to a peace process".
Speaking to Good Morning Britain, Reynolds said the entire Labour Party was elected on a manifesto promising Palestinian state recognition. "It is a case of when, not if," he told the programme.
Recognition expected this Parliament
Reynolds emphasised the importance of timing, saying recognition could only be done once to achieve "a meaningful breakthrough". He told Sky News earlier that recognition would happen "in this Parliament if it delivers the breakthrough that we need".
The Prime Minister is expected to chair a Cabinet meeting on the conflict later this week. The UK is working with Jordan to airdrop aid into Gaza and evacuate children requiring medical assistance, with military planners deployed for additional support.
UN warns of aid limitations
However, the head of the UN's Palestinian refugee agency warned such efforts are "a distraction" that will fail to address deepening starvation in Gaza. The official said airdrops could in some cases harm civilians rather than help them.
Images and warnings of starvation from Gaza have intensified pressure on the Israeli government over its conduct in the conflict. Starmer held crisis talks with French and German counterparts on Saturday, agreeing on the need for "robust plans" to turn a ceasefire into lasting peace.
Cross-party pressure mounts
Some 221 MPs from across the political spectrum have signed a letter pressuring the Government to recognise Palestinian statehood at a UN meeting next week. The signatories include representatives from Labour, the Conservatives, Liberal Democrats, SNP, Greens, Plaid Cymru, SDLP and independents.
The majority of signatories, 131, are Labour MPs. This follows French President Emmanuel Macron's announcement that France would recognise Palestinian statehood in September, adding to international pressure on the UK Government.
(PA) Note: This article has been edited with the help of Artificial Intelligence.
