From: Prime Minister's Office, 10 Downing Street and The Rt Hon Sir Keir Starmer KCB KC MP
Published 21 September 2025
Delivered on: 21 September 2025 (Transcript of the speech, exactly as it was delivered)
In the face of the growing horror in the Middle East...
We are acting to keep alive the possibility of peace and a Two State Solution.
That's what the British people desperately want to see.
Yet, almost two years after the barbaric attacks of 7 October...
Hostages are still held by the terrorists of Hamas.
Recent images show the hostages suffering and emaciated.
Hamas refuse even to release all the bodies of the dead.
Pain that strikes deep in people's hearts across Israel and here in the UK.
We have already proscribed and sanctioned Hamas...
And we will go further -
I have directed work to sanction other Hamas figures in the coming weeks.
Meanwhile, the man-made humanitarian crisis in Gaza reaches new depths.
The Israeli government's relentless and increasing...
Including thousands as they tried to collect food and water.
We have now evacuated the first group of sick and injured children to the UK...
To be treated by the NHS.
And we continue to increase our humanitarian support.
But still, nowhere near enough aid is getting through.
We call again on the Israeli government...
To lift the unacceptable restrictions at the border...
The Israeli government escalating the conflict...
And settlement building being accelerated in the West Bank...
That's why we are building consensus with leaders in the region and beyond...
Around our Framework for Peace.
This is a practical plan to bring people together -
Behind a common vision and a series of steps...
Including the reform of the Palestinian Authority...
To revive the hope of peace and a Two State Solution...
I state clearly, as Prime Minister of this great country...
We recognised the State of Israel more than 75 years ago as a homeland for the Jewish people.
Today we join over 150 countries who recognise a Palestinian State too -
I know the strength of feeling that this conflict provokes.
We must redouble our efforts to combat hatred, in all its forms.
As the best hope for peace and security for all sides.