Amid worsening famine conditions in Gaza, the UK on Tuesday threatened to recognize Palestinian statehood at the United Nations in September unless Israel agrees to a ceasefire and to take immediate steps to allow unhindered aid shipments into the territory.
The ultimatum is diplomatically significant as the international community grapples with how to approach the increasingly dire humanitarian situation in Gaza, where food security experts warned that “the worst-case scenario of Famine is currently playing out.”
According to the UK’s statement, released by the office of UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer:
We are determined to protect the viability of the two-state solution, and so we will recognize the state of Palestine in September before [the UN General Assembly]; unless the Israeli government takes substantive steps to end the appalling situation in Gaza and commits to a long term sustainable peace, including through allowing the UN to restart without delay the supply of humanitarian support to the people of Gaza to end starvation, agreeing to a ceasefire, and making clear there will be no annexations in the West Bank.
While the UK’s recognition alone would not grant Palestine UN membership—which requires Security Council approval and a General Assembly vote—it would add diplomatic pressure and legitimize Palestinian territorial claims. The move by a key US ally would signal a significant shift in Western support for Israel’s conduct of the war.
Also on Tuesday, upwards of 40 US senators urged the Trump administration to dramatically expand Gaza humanitarian operations, calling current efforts inadequate as “deaths due to starvation, especially among children, are increasing.”
The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) reported Tuesday that 81% of Gaza households now report poor food consumption, with acute malnutrition among children under five reaching 16.5% in Gaza City—crossing the famine threshold. At least 16 children have died from hunger-related causes since July 17, according to the report.
The IPC found that over 1,000 people have been killed while attempting to access food since May 27, with 88% of Gaza’s territory under evacuation orders.
