LONDON, April 28, 2025 | Prime Minister’s Office – The Palestinian and British governments held high-level meetings today in London to discuss the ongoing Israeli aggression, the catastrophic humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip, Israeli attacks on the West Bank and East Jerusalem, the urgent need for an immediate ceasefire, the unimpeded entry of humanitarian aid, and the imperative to uphold international humanitarian law by all parties.

During his meetings with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Foreign Secretary David Lammy, Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr. Mohammad Mustafa conveyed the greetings of President Mahmoud Abbas and expressed appreciation for the United Kingdom’s support to Palestine. Discussions focused on elevating bilateral relations to a strategic partnership and reaffirming a shared commitment to achieving a two-State solution and ending the occupation.

Both sides emphasized their commitment to working towards the two-State solution, affirming that ending the Israeli occupation is the only path to achieving a just, and sustainable peace in the Middle East. They underscored the importance of recognizing the State of Palestine, with the United Kingdom affirming the Palestinian people's right to self-determination and voicing its intention to recognize Palestinian statehood as an inalienable right.

The United Kingdom condemned settlement expansion and settler violence, calling for the immediate cessation of all settlement activities. Both parties also stressed the urgent need for Israel to release withheld Palestinian clearance revenues and the importance of a coordinated approach for the next phase in Gaza, building upon Palestinian-Egyptian-Arab initiatives, under a single Palestinian national authority across all occupied territories, including the Gaza Strip.

The two governments signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) establishing a framework for strategic cooperation and high-level dialogue across sectors of mutual interest. The MoU reaffirms both parties' commitment to the establishment of a sovereign and independent State of Palestine within the framework of the two-State solution and underscores the Palestinian Authority’s role as the sole legitimate governing authority over the occupied Palestinian Territory. It stresses the need for the unification of Gaza and the West Bank under the leadership of the Palestinian Authority.

Furthermore, the MoU highlights the Palestinian Authority’s commitment to implementing its reform and development program as a national priority and affirms the United Kingdom’s commitment to supporting humanitarian and developmental priorities in the occupied Palestinian Territory through an annual development dialogue. It also promotes enhanced cooperation in trade, education development, climate change, culture, and other areas of shared interest.

In a significant step forward, the United Kingdom announced a £101 million aid package fot Palestine dedicated to humanitarian assistance, the development of the Palestinian economy, and strengthening governance, institutional reform, and development, to be allocated for the 2025/2026 fiscal year.

Prime Minister Dr. Mohammad Mustafa was accompanied by Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and Expatriates Dr. Varsen Aghabekian Shaheen, Minister of Health Dr. Majed Abu Ramadan, and Ambassador of the State of Palestine to the United Kingdom Dr. Husam Zomlot.