Overview

• The UK government announced it will recognize Palestine at the UN in September unless Israel agrees to a Gaza ceasefire, reopens full UN humanitarian access and halts plans to annex parts of the West Bank.
• France has issued a parallel pledge to formally recognize a Palestinian state if Israel does not meet similar conditions by the UN General Assembly.
• UN agencies led by World Food Programme chief Cindy McCain urged an immediate, unobstructed influx of large-scale daily food aid to avert a looming mass famine in Gaza.
• Israeli forces opened fire on crowds at the Zikim crossing this week, killing at least 31 Palestinians and wounding 145 as they waited for humanitarian assistance.
• A coalition of 17 countries called for Hamas to disarm and endorsed a two-state solution, while Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar rejected any cessation of operations unless Hamas is removed from power.