Sir Keir Starmer was struggling to contain Labour splits tonight after France declared it will recognise Palestine as a state.

French President Emmanuel Macron announced that he will take the step at the UN General Assembly in September – drawing fury from the US and Israel.

But the PM appeared to play down the prospect of the UK following suit, despite huge pressure from growing numbers of MPs and even ministers over the increasingly dire scenes in Gaza.

In a statement, Sir Keir stressed he was ‘unequivocal’ about recognition of a Palestinian state as ‘one of those steps’ towards a ‘lasting peace’ in the Middle East.

But he also suggested a ceasefire would need to come first and the move would be part of a ‘two-state solution’ with Israel.

‘It must be part of a wider plan which ultimately results in a two-state solution and lasting security for Palestinians and Israelis,’ the PM added.

‘This is the way to ensure it is a tool of maximum utility to improve the lives of those who are suffering – which of course, will always be our ultimate goal.’

Sir Keir condemned the ‘appalling scenes’ in Gaza, which he described as ‘unrelenting’.

He said the continued captivity of hostages, denial of humanitarian aid to Palestinians, increasing violence from extemist settler groups, and Israel’s ‘disproportionate military escalation’ were all ‘indefensible’.

It came as 221 MPs – a third of the House of Commons – from across different political parties this evening joined forces to call on the Government to recognise a Palestinian state.

US President Donald Trump has swiped earlier that Mr Macron’s statement ‘doesn’t carry any weight’.

As he prepared to leave the White House for a five-day trip to Scotland, Mr Trump told reporters: ‘Here’s the good news, what he says doesn’t matter.

‘It’s not going to change anything.’

Sir Keir Starmer was struggling to contain Labour splits tonight after France declared it will recognise Palestine as a state.

French President Emmanuel Macron announced that he will take the step at the UN General Assembly in September – drawing fury from the US and Israel

It came as 221 MPs – a third of the House of Commons – from across different political parties  joined forces to call on the Government to recognise a Palestinian state

The MPs’ request urged Sir Keir to take the step ahead of a UN conference in New York next week.

Their letter to the PM and Foreign Secretary David Lammy has been co-ordinated by senior Labour MP Sarah Champion, chair of the International Development Select Committee.

It said: ‘We are expectant that the outcome of the conference will be the UK Government outlining when and how it will act on its long-standing commitment on a two-state solution; as well as how it will work with international partners to make this a reality.’

Parliamentarians from Labour, the Conservatives, Lib Dems, SNP, Greens, Plaid Cymru, SDLP and independents were among those who signed the letter.

Senior signatories included Labour select committee chairs Liam Byrne and Ruth Cadbury, and Lib Dem leader Sir Ed Davey.

The PM issued his statement on Friday following talks with Mr Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz.

The so-called ‘E3’ leaders called for an ‘immediate ceasefire’ in Gaza but also insisted the ‘disarmament of Hamas is imperative’ and said the terror group ‘must have no role in the future of Gaza’.

They added: ‘The humanitarian catastrophe that we are witnessing in Gaza must end now.

‘The most basic needs of the civilian population, including access to water and food, must be met without any further delay.

‘Withholding essential humanitarian assistance to the civilian population is unacceptable.

‘We call on the Israeli Government to immediately lift restrictions on the flow of aid and urgently allow the UN and humanitarian NGOs to carry out their work in order to take action against starvation.

‘Israel must uphold its obligations under international humanitarian law.

‘We firmly oppose all efforts to impose Israeli sovereignty over the Occupied Palestinian Territories.

‘Threats of annexation, settlements and acts of settler violence against Palestinians undermine the prospects for a negotiated two-state solution.’ 

Health Secretary Wes Streeting urged swift action to recognise Gaza this week – but other ministers have backed a more cautious approach.

Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds said yesterday: ‘We are deeply committed to the recognition of Palestine as a state, that was part of our manifesto, but obviously we want that to be meaningful.’

Tory leader Kemi Badenoch warned Sir Keir not to follow France’s ‘misguided decision’.

She claimed that recognition of Palestine as a state would ‘reward’ Hamas following the terror group’s attacks on Israel – and seizure of hostages – on 7 October 2023.

Aid agencies have warned Gaza is close to famine, saying 113 people have starved to death in the past week. Pictured, Naima Abu Ful poses for a photo with her two-year-old malnourished child, Yazan, at their home in the Shati refugee camp in Gaza City this week

Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu has insisted a Palestinian state would only be a ‘launch pad’ for more efforts to obliterate Israel

US President Donald Trump swiped that Mr Macron’s statement ‘doesn’t carry any weight’ 

Mrs Badenoch posted on Twitter/X: ‘The US has withdrawn its negotiating team from Qatar after Hamas yet again refused to cooperate during ceasefire talks.

‘There are still 50 hostages remaining in Gaza, brutally taken from their homes on October 7th.

‘The French Government’s decision to unilaterally recognise a Palestinian state in this context, outside any direct negotiations, while hostages are still held, undermines the prospects of a lasting peace and sends a dangerous message to the world.

‘Keir Starmer must assist in seeking a peaceful end to this conflict rather than follow France’s misguided decision to reward the terrorist group that started it.

‘The only path to peace that will see an end to the appalling suffering in Gaza is the complete eradication of Hamas.’

Touring broadcast studios this morning, Technology Secretary Peter Kyle was asked when Palestinian statehood would happen.

‘The timeline for peace and stability and a negotiated solution to the war that’s currently unfolding and ultimately Palestinian statehood is in the gift of Palestine and Israel themselves,’ the Cabinet minister told Times Radio.

‘It cannot be imposed from the outside. But what Britain is doing is using all of its international influence, all of the efforts that can come from partnership, and all of the support that we can give through aid and other kinds of support in order to establish the circumstances where that process can start.

‘I know that this is intensely frustrating, but don’t let’s mix up lots of different issues.

‘At the moment, the primary issue before us is how we get aid into Gaza, how we can bring peace into Gaza, how we can end this war once and for all, so that we can move to the political solution.

‘Statehood is a political act. What we need is food on people’s plates today, and what Keir is doing is working incredibly hard to make sure that we can get the support that will keep Palestinians alive in Gaza today. That is the imperative. That is what we’re pushing for.’

The political focus has been intensified by the emergence of a new left-wing, pro-Gaza party headed by Jeremy Corbyn and fellow former Labour MP Zarah Sultana.

Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu has insisted a Palestinian state would only be a ‘launch pad’ for more efforts to obliterate Israel.

Aid agencies have warned Gaza is close to famine, saying 113 people have starved to death in the last week. 

Yesterday, news agencies AP, AFP and Reuters said their journalists in Gaza are close to starvation.

Israel has said the claims are ‘cynical’ lies peddled by Hamas as part of a pressure tactic amid the ongoing hostage negotiations.

Mr Macron said last night: ‘True to its historic commitment to a just and lasting peace in the Middle East, I have decided that France will recognise the state of Palestine.

‘I will make this solemn announcement at the United Nations General Assembly next September.’

A report by the Commons Foreign Affairs Committee, chaired by Labour’s Emily Thornberry, said the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, established with US funding, had failed catastrophically and must be replaced with a UN-led system.

It said the organisation had directly contributed to the deaths of hundreds of civilians, citing UN figures showing that 875 people have been killed while seeking food.