UK says to recognise Palestinian state in September unless Israel acts

Prime Minister Keir Starmer said Tuesday Britain will recognise the state of Palestine in September unless Israel takes "substantive steps" in Gaza, including agreeing to a ceasefire.

"I have 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," Starmer said.

"With that solution now under threat, this is the moment to act," he added.

The UK carried out its first air drop of aid into Gaza on Tuesday, the government said, as UN agencies warned the Palestinian territory was slipping into famine.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer's office said "the first air drops of British aid" were landing Tuesday "containing around half a million pounds worth of lifesaving supplies".

"The Palestinian people have endured terrible suffering now in Gaza because of a catastrophic failure of aid, we see starving babies, children too weak to stand," Starmer said in a televised address, adding "the suffering must end".