The United Kingdom will move to officially recognise a Palestinian state at the United Nations General Assembly in September unless Israel takes clear and measurable steps to end the dire humanitarian crisis in Gaza, Prime Minister Keir Starmer has announced.

Speaking after an emergency cabinet meeting, Starmer said the UK’s recognition would go ahead if Israel fails to meet a set of conditions that include agreeing to a ceasefire, allowing humanitarian aid to flow into Gaza under UN supervision, and committing to a long-term peace plan that supports a two-state solution.

He also called on the Israeli government to clarify that it will not pursue annexations in the West Bank.

Starmer explained that the “intolerable situation” in Gaza and the diminishing hopes for a two-state solution had pushed his government to act.

“The very possibility of a two-state solution is reducing,” he said, adding that the UK’s aim remains “a safe secure Israel alongside a viable and sovereign Palestinian state.”

The move follows a similar announcement by France last week, becoming the first G7 nation to commit to recognising Palestinian statehood by September. Although the UK has previously said recognition should come when it would have the greatest impact, pressure has intensified within the country, including from Labour MPs, urging the government to act swiftly.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu criticised the decision, saying it “rewards Hamas's monstrous terrorism.”

In a social media post, he warned, “A jihadist state on Israel's border TODAY will threaten Britain TOMORROW. Appeasement towards jihadist terrorists always fails. It will fail you too. It will not happen.”

While Israel is unlikely to accept the UK’s conditions, Starmer also placed demands on Hamas, saying it must release all hostages, declare a ceasefire, disarm, and accept exclusion from any future governance of Gaza.

Foreign Secretary David Lammy, addressing a UN conference in New York the same day, confirmed that the UK had worked with Jordan to deliver 20 tonnes of aid into Gaza by air and called for unhindered access by land.

Aid agencies and the UN have described the situation in Gaza as “man-made mass starvation,” blaming Israel for blocking relief efforts, although Israel maintains that it has not restricted humanitarian deliveries and denies claims of starvation.

Reactions to the UK’s announcement were mixed. Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey welcomed the move as “a crucial step” but urged Starmer to recognise the Palestinian state immediately.

He said, “Rather than use recognition, which should have taken place many months ago, as a bargaining chip, the prime minister should be applying pressure on Israel by fully ceasing arms sales, and implementing sanctions against the Israeli cabinet.”

Over 250 MPs have signed a letter urging immediate recognition of a Palestinian state, with more than half of Labour’s lawmakers backing the call.

Labour MP Sarah Champion, who coordinated the letter, said she was “delighted and relieved” by the development but expressed concern that the recognition is conditional. “Israel is the occupier, and recognition is about the self-determination of the Palestinian people. The two should be separate,” she said.

Meanwhile, Conservative and Reform UK leaders opposed the move.

Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch said the decision “won’t bring the hostages home, won’t end the war and won’t get aid into Gaza,” describing it as “political posturing at its very worst.”

The announcement follows weekend talks between Starmer and the leaders of France and Germany about pathways to a two-state solution.

However, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz indicated that Germany would not recognise a Palestinian state in the near future, describing such a move as “one of the last steps” in achieving peace.

Globally, 139 countries already recognise Palestine as a state. Last year, Spain, Ireland and Norway formalised recognition in a bid to increase diplomatic pressure on Israel for a ceasefire.

Currently, Palestine holds limited rights at the UN and is recognised by international bodies such as the Arab League.

Critics argue that symbolic recognition will not resolve deeper questions around the leadership, borders, and viability of a future Palestinian state unless these are addressed as part of a broader peace process.