Downing Street declines to say if Palestine to be recognised with Hamas in power - Number 10 said Israeli hostages must be freed ‘unconditionally and immediately’

Britain could recognise the State of Palestine with Hamas still in power, Downing Street has suggested. Sir Keir Starmer announced last week that the UK would recognise a Palestinian state at a meeting of the UN General Assembly in September unless Israel meets certain conditions.

Hamas has said it will not disarm until an independent Palestinian state is established with Jerusalem as its capital. The announcement comes after the UK, France, and Canada all set out plans to recognise Palestine at the United Nations General Assembly in September.