nnThe UK government announced plans to recognize a Palestinian state in September unless Israel takes substantive steps to end the Gaza crisis, including agreeing to a ceasefire and committing to long-term peace. Israel and families of hostages condemned the move as ‘rewarding terrorism,’ with Prime Minister Netanyahu accusing the UK of appeasing Hamas. Foreign Secretary David Lammy faced questioning from the BBC about the timing of recognition, emphasizing the policy aims to revive the two-state solution. The Palestinian Authority welcomed the announcement as a ‘courageous step,’ while a freed British-Israeli hostage called it a ‘moral failure.’ Seventeen nations, including Arab states and EU members, jointly endorsed the two-state solution framework at a UN conference.