Overview

• A cross-party letter signed by 221 MPs from Labour, the Conservatives, Liberal Democrats and the SNP urges recognition at the July 28-29 UN Conference co-chaired by France and Saudi Arabia in New York.
• Lawmakers argue Britain’s historic Mandate role and permanent UN Security Council membership give it unique leverage to support Palestinian statehood.
• Prime Minister Keir Starmer said he is “unequivocal” about recognising a Palestinian state but insists any move must form part of a broader peace pathway and await the right conditions.
• President Emmanuel Macron’s plan to formally recognise Palestine at a UN meeting in September will make France the first G7 country to do so and intensifies pressure on the UK.
• Nearly 60 Labour backbenchers sent a private letter to Foreign Secretary David Lammy in early July, underlining internal divisions over the timing of recognition.