The United Kingdom and Canada formally recognized the State of Palestine on September 21st, 2025, with the UK citing a desire to revive hope for a two-state solution. Prime Minister Starmer emphasized that Hamas will have no role in Palestine's future and announced expanded UK sanctions targeting Hamas members. In response, Israel is considering retaliatory measures, including the possibility of applying sovereignty to parts of the West Bank, according to reports from a cabinet hearing and an Israeli minister's proposal. The UK's recognition was announced via X by Keir Starmer, with a social media post from @WW3finalboss confirming the development. This move follows a statement posted on X by Keir Starmer earlier in the day, detailing the UK's position. The decision is seen by some analysts as logically connected to the October 7th events, potentially granting legitimacy to Hamas in the eyes of many Palestinians and causing resentment among Israelis who perceive it as a reward for terrorist attacks. These recognitions are unfolding amidst ongoing Middle East tensions, including continued Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) operations in Gaza and earlier rocket interceptions by the Iron Dome system. Meanwhile, the IDF has expanded its ground operation in Gaza City, dubbed "Gideon's Chariots B," with the deployment of a third division, the 36th. This division, previously withdrawn from Khan Younis, spent two weeks preparing for the offensive, which followed dozens of strikes on targets in Gaza City. French President Emmanuel Macron also engaged in discussions with the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia regarding the "New York Declaration on the two-state solution," adopted by 142 countries. Macron announced that he and the Crown Prince will co-chair a conference in New York on Monday to mobilize international efforts toward peace. Previous reports indicated that the Israeli Navy was preparing to interdict the #Global_Sumud_Flotilla. The Allenby Bridge crossing to Jordan was closed for passenger traffic following a deadly attack, in coordination with Jordanian and Palestinian authorities. Egypt also announced border security measures in the Sinai Peninsula amid concerns of terrorism and smuggling, reiterating its refusal to expand military operations in Gaza or facilitate Palestinian displacement. The IDF has also reportedly expanded its use of robotic explosive devices in Gaza over the past week to destroy buildings and neutralize threats before ground force entry.
