UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has emphasized that Palestinians “must be allowed home” following U.S. President Donald Trump’s controversial proposal to remove Gaza’s population and place the territory under American control.
Speaking in Parliament during Prime Minister’s Questions, Starmer underscored the UK’s commitment to a two-state solution, stating that Palestinians must be given the opportunity to rebuild their homes and communities after months of destruction.
Trump’s Gaza Plan Sparks Global Condemnation
Trump’s proposed vision for Gaza—which he described as the potential “Riviera of the Middle East”—includes forcibly displacing 1.8 million Palestinians and refusing their return. His plan has been widely criticized as ethnic cleansing, as it would violate international law.
While Starmer refrained from directly criticizing Trump’s proposal, he emphasized that any ceasefire must ensure humanitarian aid reaches Gaza at scale and that displaced Palestinians can return to their homes.
“They must be allowed home. They must be allowed to rebuild, and we should be with them in that rebuild on the way to a two-state solution,” Starmer stated.
UK Pushes Back Against US Policy Shift
Starmer’s comments came in response to Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey, who urged the prime minister to clearly communicate the UK’s opposition to Trump’s plan.
“Many of us were alarmed to hear President Trump speak about forcibly displacing 1.8 million people from Gaza,” Davey said. “Will the prime minister confirm that these dangerous statements will be firmly communicated to the White House?”
The UK’s Foreign Secretary, David Lammy, also made clear that Britain does not support the U.S. president’s vision for Gaza, despite initially acknowledging Trump’s commitment to reconstruction.
“Donald Trump is right,” Lammy said at a press conference in Kyiv. “Palestinians have been horrendously displaced, and Gaza lies in rubble.”
However, he quickly added:
“We have always been clear: we must see two states, and Palestinians must be able to live and prosper in their homeland—Gaza and the West Bank.”
Trump Suggests US Military Could Enforce Gaza Takeover
The international backlash against Trump’s plan grew stronger after the U.S. president refused to rule out sending American troops to enforce his Gaza proposal.
Speaking alongside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Trump dismissed concerns over Palestinian displacement, stating:
“The only reason Palestinians want to go back to Gaza is that they have no alternative.”
Describing Gaza as a “demolition site”, Trump insisted that the U.S. would take full control of the territory, claiming:
“We’ll own it and be responsible for dismantling all of the dangerous unexploded bombs and other weapons.”
UK and Allies Face Diplomatic Balancing Act
The UK, along with other U.S. allies, now faces the challenge of pushing back against Trump’s policy without jeopardizing key diplomatic and trade relations.
Foreign Secretary David Lammy’s measured response reflects the UK’s strategic approach—condemning forcible displacement while maintaining diplomatic ties with Washington.
As international pressure mounts, Starmer’s clear endorsement of a two-state solution signals that the UK will continue to advocate for Palestinian rights and oppose forced relocations.
With Trump’s stance on Gaza drawing global condemnation, the UK’s role in supporting Palestinian reconstruction will be closely watched in the coming months.
