Trump Says He Disagrees With UK PM Keir Starmer On Palestinian State

London:

US President Donald Trump expressed disagreement with Prime Minister Keir Starmer regarding Britain's intention to recognize a Palestinian state during discussions on the Gaza war Thursday.

"I have a disagreement with the prime minister on that score -- one of our few disagreements," Trump stated during a joint press conference with Starmer at the UK prime minister's country residence Chequers on the second full day of his state visit.

In July, Starmer announced Britain would take steps toward Palestinian state recognition at the September UN General Assembly unless Israel fulfilled certain conditions, including reaching a Gaza ceasefire.

This matter emerged as a rare point of contention amid an otherwise unified front presented by Starmer and Trump during their press conference.

The United States has firmly opposed countries recognizing a Palestinian state, even as France, Canada, and other Western allies prepare to take this step at next week's United Nations meeting.

During their discussions, the leaders addressed Gaza's worsening conditions, with Starmer noting their agreement on "the need for peace and a road map."

"I want an end. I want the hostages released," Trump remarked, describing the war as "complex" while avoiding direct responses to multiple questions about whether he would encourage his ally Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to cease Israeli bombing in Gaza.

Starmer characterized Gaza's situation as "intolerable" and emphasized the "need to get aid into Gaza at speed."

He added that Palestinian statehood recognition would form part of a broader "plan for peace" that would ensure Hamas had no governance role, though he provided no additional details about the timing of formal recognition.

UK media reported Thursday that Starmer might finalize plans for Palestinian state recognition as early as this weekend, ahead of the UN summit.

Of the 251 people taken hostage by Palestinian militants in October 2023, 47 remain in Gaza, including 25 the Israeli military believes are deceased.

The Hamas attack resulted in 1,219 deaths, predominantly civilians, according to an AFP tally of official figures.

Israel's retaliatory campaign has killed at least 65,141 people, mostly civilians, based on figures from the territory's health ministry that the United Nations considers reliable.