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Trump says he didn't discuss UK plan to recognise Palestinian state with Starmer
This comes after Britain's announcement that it will recognise the state of Palestine in September unless Israel end the 'appalling situation' in Gaza
- PUBLISHED: Tue 29 Jul 2025, 9:49 PM UPDATED: Tue 29 Jul 2025, 11:34 PM
- By:
- Reuters
US President Donald Trump said on Tuesday (July 29) that he and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer did not discuss London's plan to recognise a Palestinian state unless Israel takes a number of steps to improve life for Palestinians.
Starmer said on Tuesday that Britain was prepared to recognise a Palestinian state in September at the United Nations General Assembly in response to growing public anger over the images of starving children in Gaza.
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"We never did discuss it," Trump told reporters on board Air Force One while traveling back to the US after meeting Starmer in Scotland.
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Trump said recognising a Palestinian state would reward Palestinian militant group Hamas.
"You're rewarding Hamas if you do that. I don't think they should be rewarded," he said.
Trump said the US had sent money for food aid for Palestinians in Gaza, and that he wanted to make sure it's properly spent.
"I want to make sure the money is spent wisely and is spent judiciously, and that food is distributed in a proper manner," he said.
Meanwhile, Israel said it "rejected" Prime Minister Keir Starmer's announcement that Britain will recognise a Palestinian state unless Israel acts to end the war in Gaza.
"Israel rejects the statement by the prime minister of the United Kingdom", the foreign ministry posted on X, adding that the move "constitutes a reward for Hamas and harms efforts to achieve a ceasefire in Gaza".
