British Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced Tuesday that the United Kingdom will recognize a Palestinian state by the time the United Nations General Assembly convenes in September, should Israel fail to agree to a ceasefire.

“The time to recognize Palestine is now,” Starmer said, emphasizing that such a move would have the greatest impact at this critical moment.

The announcement follows a similar statement made last week by French President Emmanuel Macron, signaling growing international pressure for a resolution to the ongoing conflict.

A spokesperson for 10 Downing Street said the Prime Minister believes “the increasingly unbearable situation in Gaza and the narrowing prospects for a peace process toward a two-state solution make this the right moment to advance this position.”

Successive British governments have repeatedly stated their intention to officially recognize a Palestinian state “at the appropriate time,” but have never set a clear timeline or specified the conditions required for such a move.

The issue returned to the spotlight last week after French President Emmanuel Macron announced that Paris would formally recognize a Palestinian state in September.

The ongoing war between Israel and Hamas, now in its 22nd month, has devastated Gaza. Israel has come under mounting international criticism over the worsening humanitarian crisis in the besieged Palestinian enclave, which has been under near-total blockade since March following the outbreak of hostilities.