Sir Keir Starmer will be 'rewarding terrorism' if the UK recognises a Palestinian state, Kemi Badenoch has warned.

The Conservative leader spoke out amid reports Britain could move forward with the policy as early as Sunday to try to pressure Israel for a ceasefire in Gaza.

She wrote in the Telegraph: 'Most of us want to see a two-state solution to the crisis in the Middle East.

'But it is obvious, and the US has been clear on this, that recognition of a Palestinian state at this time and without the release of the hostages, would be a reward for terrorism.

'Yet Keir Starmer plans to do just that as President Trump leaves.'

The American premier left the UK on Thursday after his historic second state visit, with two glamorous days across London, Chequers and Windsor Castle.

Mrs Badenoch, accusing the PM of being 'nice' to hostile foreign nations, said she would 'never apologise for standing by Israel when it strikes back against terrorism'.

The opposition leader also lambasted Sir Keir for 'condemning' the UK's traditional ally Israel when it killed Hamas leaders in strikes earlier this year.

Sir Keir Starmer will be 'rewarding terrorism' if the UK recognises a Palestinian state, Kemi Badenoch (pictured) has warned

The Conservative leader also lambasted Sir Keir (pictured, at a bilateral meeting with the President of the Palestinian Authority Mahmoud Abbas in London on September 8, 2025) for 'condemning' the UK's traditional ally Israel when it killed Hamas leaders in strikes earlier this year

The Palestinian armed group said five of its members were killed in the attack in Doha, the capital of Qatar, earlier this month.

The PM, ahead of a meeting with Israeli president Isaac Herzog, warned at the time it violated the country's sovereignty and risked 'further escalation across the region'.

Mrs Badenoch said Labour's foreign policy was to 'condemn our allies, indulge our adversaries and hand away our sovereignty'.

Her comments come as the Government is expected to formally recognise the Palestinian state, plans for which Sir Keir announced in July.

He said he would do so during the UN General Assembly meeting in September if Israel did not take 'substantive steps' towards peace in Gaza.

There has been no ceasefire and the situation in Gaza has deteriorated, with a declaration of a famine in Gaza City and the expansion of Israeli military operations.

The PM also cited a series of other conditions Israel would need to meet to avoid the British move, including a lasting ceasefire and aid deliveries.

The Times reported Sir Keir intends to recognise a Palestinian state on Sunday, the day before the UN General Assembly's general debate begins in New York.

Her comments come as the Government is expected to formally recognise the Palestinian state, plans for which Sir Keir announced in July. Pictured: Smoke rises after Israeli strikes in Gaza City on September 18, 2025

Read More UK 'will formally recognise Palestine as a state'... after Trump leaves the country

High-level meetings at the UN summit involving world leaders begin next week.

The Prime Minister has found himself at odds with the US administration over the move, which is opposed to official recognition of Palestine.

But other nations, including France, Australia and Canada, have said they plan to take the same step at the UN gathering.

The move, which comes amid pressure from left-wing voters and Labour MPs amid the worsening humanitarian situation in Gaza and is supported by France, would spark a diplomatic row with Israel and the US.

Detractors have said it will erase any negotiating power Britain has with Israel and Hamas by removing the incentive for the latter to release remaining hostages.

During a visit to London last week, Israeli President Isaac Herzog said recognising Palestine 'won't help one Palestinian, one hostage' and could be 'adversely interpreted by Hamas'.

The Chief Rabbi, Ephraim Mirvis, similarly said the move was a 'historic error' and 'will only impede the cause of peace'.

He urged the Prime Minister to reconsider and echoed Mrs Badenoch's warning it would be a 'reward for terrorism'.

At a joint press conference with the Prime Minister at Chequers on Thursday, Mr Trump (pictured) said he disagreed with recognising the Palestinian state

Read More UK recognition of a Palestinian state 'rewards Hamas' says Starmer's former extremism tsar

At a joint press conference with the Prime Minister at Chequers on Thursday, Mr Trump said he disagreed with recognising the Palestinian state.

He did not however repeat previous comments it would reward Hamas.

At the same press conference, Sir Keir denied he was waiting for the US president to leave the UK before announcing recognition.

He said he had 'made my position clear at the end of July, so the timing, it's got nothing to do with this state visit'.

But the PM said Hamas could have 'no part in any future governance in Palestine'.

The British premier added the group 'don't want a two-state solution': 'They don't want peace, they don't want a ceasefire.'

Elsewhere in her essay, Mrs Badenoch said Sir Keir is not able to be the global leader Britain needs.

She also dubbed the pursuit of net zero by 2050 'economic self-sabotage' and attack on Britain's 'economic competitiveness' amid an instable global order.

The Conservative leader said it would hand economic power to China and other nations by forcing up energy prices at home and stopping British firms from being able to compete internationally.

Her party plans to launch a new foreign policy plan at its annual conference this year, based around 'Conservative realism'.

Mrs Badenoch said this would emphasise strength and sovereignty, particularly in a boost to defence manufacturing.

It would reject what she called 'liberal internationalism' and 'neo-con adventurism'.

She blasted Sir Keir for over-relying on international bodies and the courts to explain his actions, especially in handing over the Chagos Islands to Mauritius earlier this year.

The Labour Party has been approached for comment.

Kemi Badenoch: UK 'rewarding terrorism' with Palestinian recognition