The United Kingdom reiterates its commitment to making progress towards a two-state solution, in which a safe and secure Israel lives alongside a sovereign, viable Palestinian state.
The people of the West Bank and Gaza must be given the political horizon of a credible route to a Palestinian state and a new future, and it needs to be irreversible. This is not entirely in our gift. But recognition of a Palestinian state should be part of it. We believe that such recognition of Palestinian statehood should not come at the start of a new process, but it doesn’t have to come at the very end of the process.
We must start with fixing the immediate crisis in Gaza. Gaza is Occupied Palestinian Territory and must be part of a future Palestinian state. However, Hamas is still in control of Gaza, and Israeli hostages remain in captivity. This shows that we are still at the start of the process.
Ensuring Hamas is no longer in charge of Gaza and removing Hamas’s capacity to launch attacks against Israel are essential and unavoidable steps on the road to lasting peace.
As is working together to support the new Palestinian government as it takes much-needed steps on reform and resumes governance in Gaza as well as the West Bank.
This is why the United Kingdom abstained on the Security Council resolution on the 18th of April. We must keep our focus on the immediate challenge facing innocent civilians right now. This means continuing to support a deal which would secure a pause in fighting, then making progress towards a sustainable ceasefire without a return to destruction, fighting and loss of life.
President, my Foreign Secretary has spoken with the new Prime Minister of the Palestinian authority, Mohammad Mustafa, and offered the UK’s support as his government implements much needed reforms. An effective Palestinian authority is vital for lasting peace and progress towards a two-state solution. And we are working urgently to scale up aid into Gaza, including having trebled our support to Occupied Palestinian Territories last financial year to over $120 million.
We will continue to work urgently to help to bring peace and galvanise a political process towards a two-state solution which provides justice and security for both Israelis and Palestinians.
