The Shadow Foreign Secretary has accused the Prime Minister of yielding to parliamentary pressure over potential Palestinian state recognition.
Speaking to GB News, Dame Priti Patel suggested the announcement came without adequate preparation or strategy.
Addressing the nation, Starmer said: "I’ve always said that we will recognise a Palestinian state as a contribution to a proper peace process at the moment of maximum impact for the two-state solution.
"With that solution now under threat, this is the moment to act."
GB News
|Priti Patel hit out at Keir Starmer for 'conceding to backbenchers' over Palestine
Discussing the decision on GB News, Patel stated: "I have to say, I think Keir Starmer is really just conceding to pressure from his backbenchers. By the way, that's not the first time. He's had to do that on many other issues."
The Conservative MP highlighted how she had raised concerns in Parliament on "22 separate occasions".
Stressing the "serious issue" of the Middle Eastern conflict, Patel said: "I’ve been pressing the Government on literally 22 occasions in the House of Commons, where we've just seen the Government just really appease its back benches.
"Saying that they will recognise Palestine but do so without a plan is why this is a very serious issue."
PA | Sir Keir Starmer has addressed the nation about recognising Palestine
Patel has strongly criticised the Government's handling of the Gaza humanitarian emergency and its diplomatic approach to the conflict.
She argued that Britain has failed to exercise meaningful influence or participate actively in peace negotiations.
"We've seen this terrible situation of humanitarian crisis in Gaza for months upon months now, and Britain simply hasn't been leveraging its influence," she told GB News.
"It hasn't been at the negotiating table. It's not really done anything in terms of making sure that we're stepping up to release the hostages, ensure that Hamas has no future role to play."
GB News
|Patel told GB News that recognising Palestine should 'not be linked' to getting more aid in
Patel emphasised that acknowledging Palestinian statehood should involve comprehensive planning rather than serving as a mechanism for humanitarian access.
"It is wrong to basically say that through recognising Palestine that they're able to get more aid in. The two should not be linked," she said.
"There should be a proper plan for state recognition of Palestine. There should be a proper proposal in terms of governance, there is no proposal for governance whatsoever, or getting rid of Hamas or reforming Palestinian Authority."
"It should never have been allowed to get to this terrible situation where there is a catastrophic famine, a terrible humanitarian crisis," she concluded.