London, July 30 -- United Kingdom PM Keir Starmer has committed to recognizing a Palestinian state ahead of September's United Nations General Assembly, Downing Street announced on Tuesday.

Starmer told a special meeting of his Cabinet that "now was the right time to move this position forward" because of the worsening humanitarian situation in Gaza and the diminishing prospects of a peace process. Israel's government swiftly dismissed the move as a "reward for Hamas," while Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu cried "appeasement" as per a report on Politico.

But Starmer vowed that the UK will recognize a Palestinian state in September unless the Israeli government takes "substantive steps" to end the crisis in Gaza and commits to a long-t...