London: Britain will recognize the state of Palestine by September unless Israel takes substantive steps to put an end to its war in the Gaza Strip. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has informed his cabinet of the United Kingdom’s plan to recognize Palestine unless Israel agrees to a ceasefire and commits to a lasting peace process.

According to Islamic Republic News Agency, a statement was issued after an emergency cabinet meeting on Tuesday, where Starmer indicated that the recognition could occur before the U.N. General Assembly in New York if Israel does not comply. This decision followed discussions of a draft European-led peace initiative and plans to boost humanitarian aid to Gaza, where the U.N. has warned of an impending famine.

In mid-July, a significant portion of British lawmakers endorsed a letter urging Prime Minister Starmer to acknowledge a Palestinian state. This initiative saw the support of 220 representatives from nine different parties.

This development in Britain follows a similar announcement by French President Emmanuel Macron, who also committed to recognizing the Palestinian state. These moves by European countries come amid increasing international dissatisfaction over the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, where Israeli actions have led to severe shortages of food, water, and medical supplies.

The conflict in Gaza has resulted in over 59,730 Palestinian fatalities and more than 144,470 injuries. Iran’s Foreign Ministry has voiced deep concern over the deteriorating humanitarian situation and condemned Israel’s continued actions, which include blocking access to essential resources.