Keir Starmer is preparing to recognise Palestinian statehood as soon as September unless Israel meets key conditions, including reaching a ceasefire and committing to a long-term peace process.

The prime minister’s announcement on Tuesday marked a significant shift in the UK’s longstanding position that it would recognise Palestine as part of a peace process at the point of maximum impact.

Downing Street said Starmer would decide the extent to which Israel and Hamas had met his conditions before he made a decision beforethe UN general assembly in September.

This is the first time the government has set concrete conditions and a timeline for recognition of a Palestinian state.