It was a historic moment. It was a strong and substantial move. But it simply wasn’t enough.

Standing in Downing Street today, Keir Starmer looked directly down the barrel of the camera as he made his statement. Each word seemed to hang with the weight he put on it. It was an extraordinary commitment. “I can confirm that the UK will recognise the state of Palestine by the UN General Assembly in September unless the Israeli government takes substantive steps to end the appalling situation in Gaza, agree to ceasefire, and commits to a long-term sustainable peace.”

Starmer had previously said that he would recognise Palestine when it might have the most impact on the efforts for a two-state solution. Today, he argued that the moment had come, not because they were on the verge of achieving it, but because the chances of it ever happening felt as if they were about to disappear.

Perhaps that’s true. Or perhaps Starmer was influenced by French President Emmanuel Macron, who announced recognition last week, or by threats from his own MPs, who have become exasperated by the caution of his administration on the issue.

This is part of a long road for UK policy towards Israel over the course of the war. The hard left considers the Government uncomplicatedly pro-Israel. Zarah Sultana, who is starting a new left-wing political party with Jeremy Corbyn,

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