Keir Starmer will summon his cabinet back from their summer recess for an urgent meeting on the Gaza crisis this week, as lawmakers from different parties warned that his discussions with Donald Trump could play a decisive role in addressing the conflict.
With increasing global concern over the worsening conditions in Gaza, Starmer is set to press the US president for a firmer stance toward Israel and to restart ceasefire negotiations when they meet in Scotland on Monday.
UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy is also expected to attend a UN conference in New York this week focusing on a two-state solution, where the possible formal recognition of a Palestinian state will be debated.
Sources within the government emphasized that recognizing Palestinian statehood was inevitable, as the Labour administration faces mounting pressure domestically to act amid shifting public sentiment.
Officials said the government would outline steps to assist in resolving the Middle East situation in the coming days, but provided few specifics, leaving Starmer vulnerable to further criticism over his handling of the issue.
Those close to the prime minister stated he was deeply troubled by Gaza’s humanitarian crisis and alarmed by reports of starvation and distress among children, prompting his decision to reconvene the cabinet.
During his meeting with Trump at the Turnberry golf course in Ayrshire, Starmer is likely to urge the US president to leverage his influence over Israel to revive stalled peace talks with Hamas.
The ceasefire proposal under discussion had included a 60-day pause in hostilities, with increased aid deliveries as a precursor to a longer truce, but negotiations collapsed last week after US and Israeli representatives pulled out of talks in Qatar.
Starmer also faces rising pressure from within his own party, including his cabinet and a significant number of Labour MPs, to officially recognize Palestinian statehood.
Downing Street has frustrated some supporters by stating that such recognition must be part of a broader peace agreement. Meanwhile, French President Emmanuel Macron declared that France would recognize Palestine at the upcoming UN General Assembly.
UK officials argue that France’s decision would largely be symbolic without tangible progress toward peace—an issue diplomats are likely to address at the UN next week.
Starmer is also expected to review progress on the economic agreement between the UK and the US, which reduces tariffs on automobiles, aluminum, and steel—seen as a starting point for deeper trade cooperation.
Following talks with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, Trump announced new US-EU trade measures imposing tariffs on many imports, which could significantly affect the UK economy.
However, MPs from multiple parties have expressed concern over the potential consequences.
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