Britain affirms support for Palestinian state under 1967 borders
The British government has released new details of its plans to recognise a Palestinian state at the UN General Assembly session in September.
In a newly published memorandum of understanding with the Palestinian Authority, the government said Britain is committed to "the two-state solution based on 1967 lines" and "does not recognise the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, as part of Israel."
"The West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and Gaza, must be reunified under its sole authority," the memorandum declares.
In a significant statement of British support for the Palestinian Authority, the document insists that the PA "must have the central role in the next phase in Gaza on governance, security and early recovery."
British officials have previously demanded that Hamas should disarm and end its rule in Gaza.
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The move opens an unprecedented gulf between British and Israeli policy and comes after the UK imposed sanctions on two Israeli ministers.
National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich were sanctioned over "their repeated incitement of violence against Palestinian communities" in June.
On 23 July, the Israeli parliament passed a non-binding motion calling on the Israeli government to annex the occupied West Bank.
And on 4 August, unnamed sources close to Netanyahu briefed local media that he is now pushing for the full occupation of the besieged Gaza Strip.
Channel 12 quoted "senior figures in the Prime Minister's Office" as saying: "The decision has been made, Israel is heading towards the occupation of the Gaza Strip."
This would involve expanding ground operations into areas where captives are believed to be held, and into locations where Israeli troops have not operated for over a year, including western Gaza City and the central refugee camps.
'Commitment to PLO principles'
The memorandum further calls for "inclusive general elections in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and Gaza" to take place "within the shortest feasible timeframe".
It adds that "the UK affirms the inalienable right of the Palestinian people of self-determination, including to an independent state.
"The two-state solution remains the best way to achieve Palestinian statehood and to guarantee that Palestinians and Israelis can live in peace and security with mutual recognition."
Also implicitly rejected are US proposals for a takeover of Gaza. Instead the UK expresses support for "Palestinian-led planning for recovery and reconstruction in Gaza".
Last week the British government announced it intends to recognise Palestinian statehood in September, following France's commitment that it would do so just days earlier on 24 July.
Barring a dramatic diplomatic reversal, France and Britain will become the first G7 countries to recognise Palestine.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office responded to Britain's announcement by saying on X: "Starmer rewards Hamas's monstrous terrorism & punishes its victims. A jihadist state on Israel's border TODAY will threaten Britain TOMORROW."
Netanyahu is wanted by the International Criminal Court in The Hague for alleged crimes against humanity and war crimes, mainly related to the use of starvation as a weapon of war in Gaza.
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