Palestinian President receives phone call from UK counterpart

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas received a phone call this evening from UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who informed him that the UK will recognize the State of Palestine next September unless the Israeli government takes substantive steps to end the horrific situation in Gaza.The Palestinian News Agency (WAFA) reported that Starmer affirmed to Abbas during the call the UK's commitment to achieving a long-term, sustainable peace, stressing the importance of allowing the United Nations to resume delivering humanitarian aid to citizens in the Gaza Strip without delay to end the famine, agreeing to a ceasefire, and affirming that no annexation will take place in the West Bank.Starmer also affirmed that the UK will continue to work with its key allies to develop a plan for political negotiations and the implementation of the two-state solution, calling on the Palestinian president to visit London to complete the discussions.For his part, the Palestinian president thanked the UK prime minister for this historic step in recognizing the State of Palestine and for working together to achieve peace and stability in the region, stressing that this courageous stance comes at a significant historical moment.