UK to recognise Palestinian state unless Israel ends Gaza suffering

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer informed his Cabinet Tuesday that the United Kingdom will recognize the State of Palestine in September, unless the Israeli government takes substantial steps to end the horrific situation in Gaza.During the Cabinet meeting, Starmer emphasised that the UK intends to recognize Palestine at the upcoming UN General Assembly in September, unless Israel takes meaningful action to end the dire humanitarian crisis in Gaza, including reaching a ceasefire, desisting from any kind of annexation of the West Bank, and committing to a long-term peace process that leads to a two-state solution, the UK government said in a statement.Starmer took this decision after recalling his government from the summer recess to discuss a new peace plan being developed in coordination with other European leaders, and to determine how to deliver more humanitarian aid to Gaza.Successive British governments had previously stated that the United Kingdom would formally recognise a Palestinian state when the time was right, without setting a clear timetable or specifying the conditions required for such recognition.Amid growing warnings that the population of Gaza faces the risk of famine, an increasing number of Labour MPs under Starmer's leadership have called for the recognition of a Palestinian state, in a bid to intensify pressure on the Israeli entity.French President Emmanuel Macron announced last week that France would recognize the State of Palestine during the UN General Assembly meeting in September.