UK says it will recognise a Palestinian state in September unless Israel agrees to ceasefire

The UK has said it will formally recognise the state of Palestine in September unless Israel agrees to a ceasefire and commits to a two-state solution before then.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer has come under pressure from members of parliament to back a two-state solution. Recently, 220 MPs signed a letter to the prime minister calling on him to recognise a Palestinian state. The letter was also addressed to Foreign Secretary David Lammy.

Starmer recalled his cabinet from their summer recess to greenlight the plan.

Lammy also made the announcement at the United Nations conference on Tuesday in New York.