Starmer faces fresh calls from Labour ranks to take the step amid warnings of mass starvation in Gaza and after France indicated it would do so within months.

In a new report, Labour and Liberal Democrat MPs on the select committee argue that statehood is an "inviolable right" that shouldn't be conditional. However, their two Conservative colleagues said Palestine should only be recognized as part of a long-term political solution to the Middle East conflict, echoing the Labour government's position.

The suffering and starvation unfolding in Gaza is unspeakable and indefensible. pic.twitter.com/ca1vl5zM3j

— Keir Starmer (@Keir_Starmer) July 24, 2025

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has previously expressed opposition to Britain's unilateral recognition of a Palestinian state. However, a majority in his party, which won decisively in recent elections, supports this step and other measures against Israel following the prolonged fighting in Gaza.

Consistent with its historic commitment to a just and lasting peace in the Middle East, I have decided that France will recognize the State of Palestine.

I will make this solemn announcement before the United Nations General Assembly this coming September.… pic.twitter.com/VTSVGVH41I

— Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) July 24, 2025

 Meanwhile, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot defended Macron's decision, arguing it would thwart Hamas' aspirations. "Hamas has always ruled out a two-state solution. By recognizing Palestine, France goes against that terrorist organization. It's backing the side of peace against the side of war," Barrot explained.

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The complete leadership structure of the United Nations' anti-Israel investigation committee crumbled this week as all three commissioners stepped down, following closely behind the Trump administration's sanctions against a pro-Hamas UN official, according to Washington Free Beacon reporting.

UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory chairwoman Navi Pillay, commissioner Miloon Kothari, and commissioner Chris Sidoti each announced their departures, according to watchdog organization UN Watch. The simultaneous resignations occurred less than seven days after Secretary of State Marco Rubio imposed sanctions on UN special rapporteur for the Palestinian territories Francesca Albanese.

Rubio targeted Albanese for what he characterized as her "illegitimate and shameful efforts to prompt [International Criminal Court] action against US and Israeli officials, companies, and executives," according to Washington Free Beacon sources. The sanctioned official had previously sent what the Washington Free Beacon described as "threatening letters" to numerous international corporations, warning them to sever business relationships with Israel or potentially face "criminal liability."

The wholesale departure of commissioners may signal the dissolution of the UN Commission of Inquiry itself, which was established in 2021 following requests from the Palestinian delegation and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation to investigate the "root causes" of the Israel-Palestinian conflict. Israeli supporters have consistently denounced the commission as demonstrating extreme prejudice, pointing to appointed leaders who have labeled Israel an "apartheid" state and accused Jewish people of media manipulation.

Although Pillay cited "age, medical issues, and the weight of several other commitments" as reasons for her resignation, UN Watch celebrated the departures and declared that the "architects of the UN's anti-Israel inquisition are fleeing the ship."

"The resignation of all three commissioners is long overdue," UN Watch executive director Hillel Neuer stated. "This was a commission born in prejudice – designed to target Israel, while ignoring Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Palestinian Authority. Its members were selected precisely for their hostility to the Jewish state."

The antagonism Neuer referenced encompasses Pillay's "apartheid" accusations against Israel and Kothari's assertion that social media remains "controlled largely by the Jewish lobby."

Albanese, the sanctioned UN official, has previously downplayed Hamas terrorism, alleged that the CIA and Mossad orchestrated the 2015 ISIS terrorist attack in Paris, and claimed the United States is "subjugated by the Jewish lobby."

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An overwhelming majority of Israelis oppose the establishment of a Palestinian state, according to the "Trust Index" survey conducted by Direct Polls Institute for the Regavim movement. The survey, conducted among 511 citizens from all sectors of Israeli society, indicates a consensus against the establishment of a Palestinian state.

A year and a half after October 7, and following the July vote of 68 Knesset members on a declaration against establishing a Palestinian state, the Regavim movement examined public positions on this issue as part of the "Trust Index" conducted by the movement for the third year.

According to the survey, 81% of the public opposes the establishment of a Palestinian state. Of these, 53% firmly oppose ever establishing a Palestinian state, while another 28% expressed reservation by answering "not in the foreseeable future." On the other side of the political map, 13% who identify themselves as left-wing party voters answered "yes and soon" to this question.

The Trust Index indicates a trend: the Israeli public is increasingly moving away from the two-state idea.

Attitude toward Israel

These results correspond with the responses to questions about the relationship between the Palestinian Authority and Hamas. To the question of how similar the Palestinian Authority's aspirations are to those of Hamas regarding the State of Israel, 70% answered they are similar to very similar, compared to 23% who answered "somewhat different" and only 7% who answered "very different."

Against the backdrop of a series of exposés by the Regavim movement in recent months about incitement and identification with Hamas actions by senior figures in Arab society in Israel, the survey examined whether trust in Arab society in Israel has weakened after the events of October 7.

68 Knesset members opposed the establishment of a Palestinian state in July, and now 81% of the public opposes it. The findings indicate a clear trend: 47% believe that trust in Arab society in Israel has weakened. In contrast, 33% answered that they did not identify any change in trust, and 17% believe that trust has actually strengthened.

"The survey can be summarized as the end of innocence. The public is sobering up," Meir Deutsch, CEO of the Regavim movement, said. "The Israeli public is waking up and shaking off the conceptions that blurred reality, the loss of trust in the Palestinian Authority and the understanding that it is no different from Hamas, alongside the erosion of trust in Arab society within us, require leadership to recalculate its course."

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In a series of candid interviews conducted in Ramallah, Jewish American comedian Zach Sage Fox encountered unwavering support for Hamas and widespread antisemitic views among Palestinians, according to reporting by The Jerusalem Post. Fox's interviews, part of his "Wild West Bank" video project, revealed a stark reality that challenges perceptions of Palestinian attitudes towards peace and coexistence.

Fox, who spoke with The Jerusalem Post on Tuesday night, described his findings as "shocking." He told the newspaper, "I didn't meet one person who didn't love Hamas. All of them hated Jews with every bone of their body."

The comedian, accompanied by a translator, producer, and cameraman, did not disclose his Jewish identity during the interviews. Ramallah is considered section A of the West Bank, where Israeli citizens are banned from entering.

Fox's experience in Ramallah was not without incident. He recounted a threatening situation where he and his team were forced to delete footage under duress. "I've been making videos for 15 years, and I've never had to delete videos because someone's threatened to kill me," Fox told The Jerusalem Post.

Free Palestine? I went to see 'Palestine'… and almost didn't make it out alive.

After asking questions on the streets of Ramallah for less than an hour, a group of Palestinian men threatened to kill us if we didn't delete our footage. This is what we were able to recover…… pic.twitter.com/D2rzmE6HBb

— Zach Sage Fox (@zachsagefox) July 23, 2024

 When asked if they were supportive of Hamas, most respondents answered affirmatively, with one woman stating, "Of course." Another interviewee declared, "Palestinian people like Hamas," while a woman asserted, "I'm with the resistance."

Fox's inquiries about the events of October 7 revealed troubling attitudes. When asked if they had seen the videos posted by Hamas from that day, one woman confidently replied, "Everything." Fox followed up by asking if they were okay with Hamas's actions, to which she confirmed, "With everything they did."

The interviews also touched on the issue of Israeli hostages held by Hamas. Fox reported to The Jerusalem Post that there was a resounding 'no' from all Palestinians when asked if Hamas should release the remaining hostages.

In discussions about historical events, Fox encountered what he described as revisionism. One younger man claimed, "Nothing is named Israel." When Fox pointed out that the Quran mentions Israel over 100 times and asked if Palestine was mentioned, the man admitted it wasn't.

Fox emphasized that his goal was not to show that peace is impossible, but to reveal the reality on the ground. "These people have so much hate in their hearts for my people. I have nothing but love in my heart for them," he said, adding that this realization made it "the most important video I've ever done."

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Ireland officially recognized a Palestinian state on Tuesday, the government said in a statement, defying Israel which had condemned the plan.

"Subject to the formal request from the Palestinian authorities, the Government will upgrade the status of the Palestinian Mission in Ireland to that of an Embassy, and authorize the appointment of an Ambassador from the State of Palestine to Ireland," the statement said. "Recognition of Palestine is not the end of a process; it is the beginning...Ireland will continue to work closely with the Palestinian Authority," the statement concluded.

Video: Reuters

"An Ambassador of Ireland to the State of Palestine will be appointed along with a full Embassy of Ireland in Ramallah," the statement said. Irish Prime Minister Simon Harris said the move was about keeping hope for peace alive. "This decision of Ireland is about keeping hope alive. It is about believing that a two-state solution is the only way for Israel and Palestine to live side by side in peace and security," he said in the statement.

"I again call on Prime Minister Netanyahu of Israel to listen to the world and stop the humanitarian catastrophe we are seeing in Gaza."

On Tuesday, Norway also officially recognized the State of Palestine. This move reflects a growing trend among European countries to consider recognizing Palestinian statehood. Spain also joined the list of countries recognizing Palestine as an independent state. However, this decision prompted Israel to immediately recall its envoys to Ireland and Norway for "urgent consultations" and threatened to withdraw the Israeli ambassador from Spain.

In addition to Norway, Spain, and Ireland, several other European nations recognize "Palestine". These include Slovenia, Malta, and Belgium, which are discussing whether and when to formally recognize "Palestine" as a state.  Within the European Union (EU), only eight out of 27 members currently recognize Palestine as a state.

Most of the Middle East, Africa, and Asia recognize Palestinian statehood. However, the United States, Canada, Australia, Japan, South Korea, and many Western European states do not.

While the recognition of Palestine as a state varies across different regions and countries, recent developments indicate a growing momentum toward acknowledging its sovereignty on the international stage. The issue remains complex and continues to be a subject of debate and diplomacy worldwide.

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Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz said on Wednesday it had ordered an immediate recall of its ambassadors to Ireland, Spain, and Norway in response to those nations' decisions to recognize a Palestinian state.

The prime ministers of Norway, Ireland, and Spain announced this morning that they will officially recognize a Palestinian state starting next Tuesday, May 28.

Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre said this morning: "We must keep alive the only alternative that allows the two sides to coexist peacefully, side by side. Recognition of a Palestinian state means bolstering the moderate forces that are losing strength as a result of the outburst of violence."

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The news about the death of the Oslo Accords turned out to be premature – after all, Israel is investing in multiple resuscitation efforts to keep the Palestinian Authority alive. But it is symbolic that even as it continues to collapse beneath our feet, we are informed of the death of Abu Alaa (Ahmed Qurei), one of its architects, in Ramallah.

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For the past two decades, Qurei served as the chairman of the Legislative Council and prime minister of the Palestinian Authority. He was involved in all the Palestinian-Israeli contact over the years and participated in the agreements signed by both sides – the Oslo Accords.

Qurei – born in Abu Dis, in 1937 – joined the ranks of the Palestine Liberation Organization in 1968 when the organization moved to Lebanon and established there a "state within a state", which served as a base for terrorist activity against Israel. He was the financial planner of the organization, and over time, became Chairman Yasser Arafat's confidant. Later, he was elected to the leadership of the PLO.

In the early 1990s, he was sent by Arafat to participate in the secret talks with Israel that led to the Oslo Accords. He was described by his Israeli interlocutors as pragmatic and flexible, but according to his own testimony, the apparent moderation he displayed was intended to ensure the full realization of the Palestinian national goals. After all, he believed in the Phased Plan – or the "Salami method" – according to which each stage in the struggle with Israel has its own uniqueness and characteristics, and therefore it is possible at one stage or another to agree to compromises and concessions, provided that this does not mean giving up on the final goal of the Palestinians, even if this goal has to be obscured at times.

But the Oslo agreement collapsed and with it the Palestinian hopes for achieving their national goals. Qurei blamed Israel for the failure and avoided any responsibility for its demise. In his opinion, it was the Six-Day War that created the predicament in which the Palestinians find themselves today.

Now there is no one left of the historical leadership of the Palestinians, except for the 88-year-old Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas. A look at the group that surrounds Abbas today reveals that it has no cohesion, no vision, no courage, and no charisma.

The death of Qurei marks the drawing of the curtain behind the founding generation of the PLO and the approaching end of the Oslo era. It also seems to signal the end of the Palestinians' pipe dreams and the bookend for the Palestinian movement, which initially took the form of a violent struggle that lacked any chance, with terror squads devoid of leadership and organization. Looking at the daily reality in Gaza and Judah and Sumaria – it seems that the Palestinians are returning to their starting point.

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Joint Arab List leader Ayman Odeh, speaking from just outside the walls of the Old City of Jerusalem on Tuesday evening, declared that Israel's capital would one day become the main city of "Palestine."

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"On these walls, the flag of Palestine will be hoisted and Jerusalem will be the capital of reconquered Palestine," he told the Kan public broadcaster amid heightened security tensions highlighted by a flag march in the city by Israel nationalists and cross-border arson attacks carried out by Palestinian terrorists in the Gaza Strip.

"Our people will shame them and they will withdraw from these places," he said, referring to the parade participants, who the Israel Police said numbered approximately 5,000.

Earlier in the day, Ra'am leader Mansour Abbas, whose faction makes up one of the eight parties in Israel's new coalition government, denounced the flag march as an "unrestrained provocation."

Odeh has been vocal in his opposition to the new coalition, declaring it a "bad government." He added that "ministers from the extremist right will hold many ministerial portfolios, such as Ayelet Shaked (Yamina) , Gideon Sa'ar (New Hope), Avigdor Lieberman (Yisrael Beytenu), Zeev Elkin (New Hope) and Oded Forer (Yisrael Beytenu)."

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He maintained that the new government would "harm the Arabs of Jerusalem and the Negev and will not represent any sort of ideal of Judeo-Arab cooperation due to the inclusion of Ra'am.

This article was first published by i24NEWS.

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No suspects have been named in the case, but investigators believe the perpetrators were mostly likely from Turkey, noting the majority of the posts were written in Turkish or contained pro-Turkish messages.

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One of the tweets on Bennett's account read "freedom for Palestine," along with an image of a Palestinian flag.

Another tweet was the Turkish national anthem translated into English.

Bennett's office issued a statement on Sunday that said: "Last night at around 2 a.m., the Twitter account of Defense Minister Naftali Bennett was hacked for several minutes. The content was deleted immediately and the password to the account was changed. The matter has been transferred to the relevant cyber authorities in the defense establishment."

Officials are currently trying to assess the security fallout from the incident. Intelligence agencies and information security experts were also checking whether Bennett's cell phone was hacked as well.

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Less than a year ago, Germany's Ambassador to the United Nations and Chancellor Angela Merkel's former diplomatic adviser, Christoph Heusgen, equated Israel to North Korea and even more stridently defended a made-up international law – which contradicts official international law – which states that the settlements are illegal. Now, Germany is arguing before the judges at The Hague that they don't have jurisdiction to discuss complaints issued by the Palestinians and their collaborators, because there is no such thing as the "State of Palestine."

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After years of an exceedingly strong chill in Israeli-German relations, something good has happened: The Bundestag became the first parliamentary house to define the BDS movement as anti-Semitic and call for the cessation of government and public funding to organizations with affiliations to it. The Bundestag passed a stringent resolution calling for increased oversight of the BDS movement and its activists in Germany, and it has called on the government to discard the distinction between Hezbollah's political and military wings and to outlaw both. In international forums, Germany has very cautiously begun changing its traditional voting habits against Israel; and against Iran, the country's tone is growing increasingly harsh and appears to be slowly approximating the Israeli-American position on the matter.

What exactly is behind this change? First, the clear and decisive policies put forth by the American administration. Beyond that, a slow but consistent change has taken place in Israel's favor within the German government and society – due to the Arab Spring and its collapse; Islamic terror which has also struck at Germany; and massive immigration from Middle Eastern countries, with all the problems it entails. A growing number of Germans are presently expressing sympathy for Israel's position and realize that Germany can benefit greatly from cooperating with it; not just militarily, but also economically.

Germany's shifting political map has also meant the shattering of traditional status quos in terms of Israel – which led Germany to become the Palestinians' biggest patron and use the European Union to pass problematic resolutions from Israel's perspective. If in the past there was bipartisan consensus over merely ceremonial support for Israel and practical support for the Palestinians, the considerable support for Israel from the leadership of the new right-wing Alternative for Germany party, has forced the majority of other parties to fall in line and begin showing actual support for Israel.

The Merkel era, which was largely good for Israel, is about to end, and perhaps quicker than expected. It isn't certain that her successors will share her sense of commitment to Israel. After the election in Israel, the new government should endeavor to find and open avenues of communication with the next generation of German leaders, with an understanding of the emerging political map rather than a reliance on past patterns of behavior. And we can also hope that Germany continues to expand its differences of opinion with the European Union.

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