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Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer meet at 10 Downing Street, in London, Britain, September 8, 2025. (photo credit: JONATHAN BRADY/POOL VIA REUTERS)
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer met PA President Mahmoud Abbas, backing Palestinian statehood at the UN while stressing the need for a Gaza ceasefire, hostages' release, and no role for Hamas.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer hosted Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas at 10 Downing Street on Monday evening, the UK Government confirmed.
During their meeting, the two leaders discussed the "intolerable situation in Gaza," with Starmer reaffirming his calls for an "immediate ceasefire, release of all hostages, and a huge surge in humanitarian aid" to the enclave, the British government said in a statement.
They also discussed the need for a solution to end the "horrific suffering and famine" in the Gaza Strip.
Starmer praised Abbas's stated commitment to reform the PA as "a vital part" of bringing "enduring peace and stability for both Palestinians and Israelis."
Abbas welcomed Starmer's pledge to recognize a Palestinian state at the United Nations General Assembly later this month. Starmer's pledge notably provided a caveat that it will only come unless the Israeli government takes "substantive steps to end the appalling situation in Gaza."
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer welcomes Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to 10 Downing Street, in London, Britain, September 8, 2025. (credit: REUTERS/Jack Taylor)
'No role for Hamas'
Both parties agreed that there is "no role for Hamas in the future governance of Palestine."
The British Government has determined that Israel is not committing genocide in Gaza, Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy told the chair of the international development committee in a letter on September 1.
This differs significantly from the government's previous position, which was that only courts can decide whether Israel is or is not committing genocide. It also marks the first time the UK government has stated explicitly that Israel's actions in Gaza do not count as genocide.
In the letter to Sarah Champion, Lammy, who was the foreign secretary at the time of writing, acknowledged that the UK government has the duty to prevent genocide under Article I of the Genocide Convention (1948) if it believes there is a serious risk of genocide occurring. This position is in line with the decision of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in the case concerning the Application of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide.
Abbas told Saudi outlets Al-Arabiya and Al-Hadath that Israel "wants to destroy all of Palestine," last Monday.
Mathilda Heller contributed to this report.
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