The British Prime Minister warns against the expansion of Israeli settlements and confirms support for the two-state solution
Quick Look
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer warned during his meeting with US President Donald Trump on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly that Israeli settlement expansion makes the two-state solution difficult to implement, stressing that the aid arriving in Gaza is less than the necessary needs, and that Britain will take steps to pressure Israel, including banning the trade in goods from illegal settlements and changing its official position on the occupation.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
The region has witnessed an unprecedented military escalation since October 2023, with Israeli operations continuing in Gaza despite the ceasefire agreement in force since October 2025, which witnessed repeated violations that resulted in more than 1,372 martyrs and 4,659 injured.
Burnham's statements came during his meeting with US President Donald Trump on the sidelines of the high-level week of the United Nations General Assembly. He said: "We are ready to play a role in the Middle East and we stress the importance of the two-state solution," adding that "settlement expansion makes the two-state solution difficult to implement."
He pointed out that "the threats facing Israel do not justify the actions of the Israeli government in Gaza and the West Bank," and the Prime Minister stressed that "the aid reaching Gaza is far less than the necessary needs, and the crisis has been going on for a long time."
He stressed that "we will not stand by and watch the continued worsening of suffering in Gaza," adding, "We will do everything in our power to preserve the possibility of establishing a Palestinian state and the two-state solution."
The British Prime Minister had previously announced three main steps to pressure the Israeli government, which were “banning trade in goods coming from illegal Israeli settlements in the Palestinian territories, changing the official position of the British government and declaring, for the first time, that the Israeli occupation of the Palestinian territories is illegal, and imposing sanctions on individuals and companies that support the settlements, facilitate their activities, or make profits from them.”
Burnham warned that the Israeli settlement expansion has witnessed a major escalation, noting that the Israeli government has agreed to build 104 new settlements since it took power in December 2022, in addition to proceeding with tenders for the huge “E1* project,” which he said “will create a corridor through the heart of the West Bank and undermine the chances of establishing a contiguous Palestinian state.”
This statement comes at a time when the region is witnessing an unprecedented military escalation, as Israel continues its military operations in the Gaza Strip since October 2023, despite the ceasefire agreement in effect since October 2025, amid repeated violations that have resulted in more than 1,372 martyrs and 4,659 injured since the agreement took effect.
What to Watch
AI outlook — possibilities, not facts
Britain will impose sanctions on individuals and companies that support illegal Israeli settlements in Palestinian territories
Likely · Within weeks
Britain will change its official position and declare for the first time that the Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories is illegal
Very likely · Within days
Open Questions
- How effective are the proposed British sanctions on settlers and companies supporting settlements?
- Will the United States change its position under the Trump administration on the two-state solution and pressure on Israel?
- Will the 'E1' project actually dismember the West Bank, as Starmer warned?
