UK: "If no ceasefire in Gaza by September, will recognize Palestine as a state"

[Financial News] UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer stated, "If Israel does not agree to a ceasefire in Gaza by September, we will recognize Palestine as a state."
On the 29th (local time), Prime Minister Starmer, in a speech following a cabinet meeting, said, "If Israel does not take substantial measures to end the horrific situation in Gaza and achieve a ceasefire to promise a long-term peace process, the UK will recognize Palestine as a state at the UN General Assembly in September."
Furthermore, Prime Minister Starmer set conditions that Israel must immediately allow humanitarian aid to resume at the UN and clearly state that it will not annex the West Bank.
He also emphasized that the Palestinian militant faction Hamas must release the remaining hostages, agree to a ceasefire, and accept that it will not take any role in governing Gaza.
Prime Minister Starmer said, "We will evaluate how much each party has achieved these steps in September," stressing that "no one should have a veto over our decision."
Meanwhile, on the same day, the Israeli daily Jerusalem Post reported that "Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has considered partially annexing Gaza in preparation for the failure of ceasefire negotiations with Hamas."
In this regard, there is also an analysis that the current discussion on the annexation of Gaza is likely a strategy by the Israeli side to pressure Hamas back to the negotiating table.
whywani@fnnews.com Chaewan Hong, Reporter