TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The UK Government will recognize Palestine before the next general election in 2029, according to UK Business and Trade Secretary Jonathan Reynolds. Speaking to Sky News on Monday, as quoted by Anadolu, Reynolds stated that ministers are committed to this recognition.When asked if the recognition would occur within the current parliamentary period, Reynolds responded, "In this parliament, yes. I mean, if it delivers the breakthrough that we need."He added a note of caution, "But don't forget, we can only do this once. If we do it in a way which is tokenistic, doesn't produce the end to this conflict, where do we go to next?"Pressure Mounts on Starmer Amid Gaza CrisisResponding to the dire humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip, Reynolds emphasized, "the point about the airdrops is that we cannot wait — we've got to do something. We can all see the lapse in humanity on display."UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer is reportedly facing pressure from several senior government members to promptly recognize Palestine, as cited by Politico.The Foreign Affairs Committee of Parliament recently urged the government to swiftly and firmly recognize Palestine's existence as part of joint preparations with allies for a two-state solution for Israel and Palestine.Emily Thornberry, the committee's chair, said that there is "a great frustration among many British people because the government continues to act too little and too late."Adding to the pressure on Starmer, over 200 members of parliament from various parties have signed an open letter calling for Palestine's recognition.International Condemnation and Diplomatic EffortsIsrael faces increasing international condemnation over the widespread starvation among children in the Gaza Strip. More than 200 parliament members from nine parties signed a letter last Friday, advocating for the immediate recognition of Palestine, arguing it would have a "significant impact due to our historic connections."French President Emmanuel Macron further increased pressure last week by stating France's commitment to such a move.Although insisting that statehood is an "inalienable right" of the Palestinian people, Starmer has so far refused to set a definitive timeframe for recognition. He maintains that recognition will occur "at a time most conducive to the prospects of peace.""I know many countries around the world have already done this. To be frank, to be candid, it hasn’t stopped the appalling scenes that we’re talking about this morning. So we’ve got to use this moment — you can only do it once. Use it in a way that gets the breakthrough that we need. And the U.S. is really important in that," Reynolds said of recognition Monday.Sky News reported that Starmer will convene his top team for an emergency meeting on Tuesday, July 29, 2025, to discuss the situation in Gaza. This rarely held cabinet meeting during the parliamentary recess is scheduled to begin at 14:00 local time, with prominent British politicians expected to deliberate on increasing aid delivery to Gaza.This meeting follows the Prime Minister's discussion with U.S. President Donald Trump in Scotland yesterday, where both leaders reportedly shared the same view on swiftly delivering more aid to Gaza.However, the U.S. and UK hold differing positions on the ongoing Two-State Solution Conference in New York; the US is boycotting it, while UK Foreign Minister David Lammy is scheduled to deliver a speech at its plenary session later.The Israeli military has carried out extensive attacks in Gaza since October 7, 2023, resulting in nearly 60,000 Palestinian casualties, predominantly women and children. Relentless bombings have devastated the enclave and caused a severe food crisis.Last November, the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant on charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.Israel also faces a genocide lawsuit in the International Court of Justice (ICJ) for the war launched against the enclave.Editor’s Choice: Trump Acknowledges Child Hunger in Gaza: 'You Can't Fake That'Click here to get the latest news updates from Tempo on Google News