Meeting, which will take place despite parliament’s summer recess, comes as government faces increasing pressure to recognize Palestinian state
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer will convene an emergency Cabinet meeting this week to discuss the escalating crisis in Gaza, local media reports said Sunday.
The meeting, which will take place despite Parliament’s summer recess, comes as the government faces increasing pressure to recognize a Palestinian state.
Ministers are currently on break until Sept. 1, but the severity of the situation has prompted a recall, according to reports first published by the Financial Times.
Starmer is also due to meet with US President Donald Trump in Scotland on Monday, where he is expected to urge the White House to adopt a firmer stance towards Israel.
Meanwhile, Foreign Secretary David Lammy is preparing to attend a UN conference in New York this week focused on a two-state solution for Israel and Palestinians.
Discussions at the summit will include steps toward the possible formal recognition of a Palestinian state.
The Israeli army, rejecting international calls for a ceasefire, has pursued a brutal offensive on Gaza since Oct. 7, 2023, killing over 59,800 Palestinians, most of them women and children. The relentless bombardment has destroyed the enclave and led to food shortages.
Last November, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.
Israel also faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice for its war on the enclave.
