David Lammy ultimatum to Israel over Gaza 'affront' applauded at UN

David Lammy has issued an ultimatum to Benjamin Netanyahu - saying Israel's "drip feeding" of aid to Gaza has "horrified the world".

The Foreign Secretary was applauded at the UN General Secretary as he said the UK would recognise the Palestinian state by September unless Israel acts. In a brief speech in New York he said: "The devastation in Gaza is heartbreaking.

"Children are starving and Israel's drip feeding of aid has horrified the world. These are an affront to the values of the charter of the United Nations."

The Foreign Secretary went on to say Britain "bears a special burden of responsibility" for delivering a two-state solution. He said: "Let me be clear - the Netanyahu government's rejection of a two state solution is wrong. It's wrong morally, and it's wrong strategically. It harms the interests of the Israeli people, closing off the only path to a just and lasting peace, and that is why we are determined to protect the viability of a two-state solution.

"And so it is with the hand of history on our shoulders that His Majesty's Government therefore intends to recognise the state of Palestine when the UN General Assembly gathers in September here in New York."

READ MORE: Keir Starmer says UK prepared to recognise Palestine in weeks in warning to Israel

Earlier on Tuesday, UN-backed experts said "the worst-case scenario of famine" was currently playing out in Gaza and warned of "widespread death" without urgent action. And Keir Starmer said the Palestinian people have suffered as a result of a "catastrophic failure of aid".

The Government is under pressure to ramp up sanctions on Israel as harrowing images show the scale of the devastation. Allegations of war crimes are mounting up against the Israeli government.

Mr Lammy said: "We have delivered three sanctions packages on violent settlers, and we suspended trade negotiations with the Israeli government. And we sanctioned far-right Israeli ministers for incitement. Yet, dear friends, the situation on the ground continues to worsen and the two state solution is in peril."

In a message to Hamas, he said: "Hamas must never be rewarded for the monstrous attack on October 7. It must immediately release the hostages, agree to an immediate ceasefire, accept it will have no role in governing Gaza and commit to disarmament.

"But Hamas are not the Palestinian people. And there is no contradiction between support for Israel's security and support for Palestinian statehood."

In a statement from Downing Street, the Prime Minister said the Palestinian people have "endured terrible suffering" with "catastrophic failure of aid". He added: "We see starving babies, children too weak to stand, images that will stay with us for a lifetime. The suffering must end."

Earlier on Tuesday, UN-backed experts said "the worst-case scenario of famine" was currently playing out in Gaza and warned of "widespread death" without urgent action.

It came as the Prime Minister held an emergency Cabinet meeting to discuss a peace plan for the region. He had summoned ministers back from the summer recess to discuss the proposals, which have been shared with France, Germany and US President Donald Trump.

Downing Street said the PM "opened by saying that he had called the meeting to address the situation in Gaza which was getting more desperate by the day".

Over 250 MPs from across the Commons have signed a letter last week calling on the government to recognise a Palestinian state immediately.

Last week the French President Emmanuel Macron said his government would do so at a meeting of the UN General Assembly in New York in September.

But Mr Trump shot back, telling reporters at the White House last week: "What he says doesn't matter.... he's a very good guy. I like him, but that statement doesn't carry weight."

READ MORE: Join our Mirror politics WhatsApp group to get the latest updates from Westminster