Saudi Gazette report

NEW YORK — Saudi Arabia on Tuesday welcomed British Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s announcement of the United Kingdom’s intention to recognize the State of Palestine and its support for the two-state solution.

In a statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Kingdom reiterated its call for the international community and peace-loving nations to take serious steps to implement international resolutions that affirm the Palestinian people's right to establish an independent state based on the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital.

Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan received UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy at the Kingdom’s permanent mission to the United Nations in New York, on the sidelines of the high-level international conference on the peaceful settlement of the Palestinian issue and implementation of the two-state solution, co-hosted by Saudi Arabia and France.

Prince Faisal welcomed the UK’s declaration and intention to move forward with Palestinian state recognition, describing it as a significant step.

The two officials also discussed ongoing efforts to alleviate the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

Earlier on Tuesday, the British Prime Minister’s Office confirmed that the UK plans to recognize the State of Palestine at the upcoming United Nations General Assembly session in September unless Israel takes "substantive steps" to end the dire situation in Gaza and commit to a lasting peace.

“This is about protecting the two-state solution,” the UK government said. “Statehood is an inalienable right, not a gift to be granted.”