Gaza latest: US special envoy will visit Gaza to see ‘dire situation on the ground’, White House says

Sir Vincent Fean, a former British consul general to Jerusalem and now a trustee of the charity Britain Palestine Project, explained to The Independent that recognition of Palestine as a state would mean that if Palestinian passports were issued, they would subsequently be recognised by the UK as passports of a state.

However, Sir Vincent said Palestinian statehood would not affect the UK’s refugee system.

“Does it impact the tally of refugees coming to the UK? No,” he said. This is because he expects the visa regime the UK currently has with Palestine – where travel is only allowed between the two after a successful visa application – would continue.

He added that Palestinian statehood “wouldn’t particularly change the right of return for Palestinians to their homeland”. He said this was a “long-standing right”, although it would require negotiation with Israel.

Nearly half of pregnant and breastfeeding mothers in Gaza are suffering from severe malnutrition and are in need of urgent care, a charity has warned.

US President Donald Trump said he did not like Canada’s plans to recognize the State of Palestine at a meeting of the United Nations in September, but added it was not a deal breaker in trade talks with Ottawa.

The US has imposed sanctions on Palestinian Authority officials and members of the Palestine Liberation Organization, accusing them of undermining peace efforts with Israel even as other Western powers moved toward recognition of Palestinian statehood.

The State Department said it would deny visas for travel to the US by those it was targeting, although it did not name any specific individuals.

“It is in our national security interests to impose consequences and hold the PLO and PA accountable for not complying with their commitments and undermining the prospects for peace,” the State Department said in a statement.

The State Department said the two Palestinian organisations had “taken actions to internationalize” their conflict with Israel, including through the International Criminal Court, and said both had continued “to support terrorism.”

The PA and PLO serve as representatives for the Palestinian people and have long pushed for recognition of a Palestinian state by international organizations and foreign nations. The two groups had no immediate comment on the US move.

There are signs of a growing diplomatic divide over Palestinian statehood between Washington and three fellow Group of Seven allies.

US special envoy Steve Witkoff met Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday in a fresh attempt to revive stalled ceasefire talks and address Gaza’s worsening humanitarian crisis.Witkoff is expected to travel to Gaza on Friday to inspect food aid deliveries, before briefing Donald Trump on a final plan to speed up aid to the enclave.Shortly after Witkoff’s arrival, Mr Trump wrote on Truth Social: “The fastest way to end the Humanitarian Crises in Gaza is for Hamas to SURRENDER AND RELEASE THE HOSTAGES!!”The US also announced sanctions on unnamed Palestinian Authority and PLO officials, accusing them of undermining peace efforts.Following the meeting, a senior Israeli official said Israel and Washington were moving towards a plan to free all hostages, disarm Hamas and demilitarise Gaza, while military operations continue.Israel has sent a response to Hamas’ latest amendments to a US-backed proposal for a 60-day ceasefire and partial hostage release. Hamas has yet to respond.At least 23 Palestinians were reported killed by Israeli fire on Thursday, including 12 people gathered near aid trucks. The Israeli military said it fired only warning shots.Gaza health officials say 156 people, mostly children, have died from starvation and malnutrition since the war began.Two Israeli ministers backed annexing the West Bank, drawing warnings from Palestinians that this would kill off any prospect of a two-state solution.Hamas vowed to keep fighting until “the occupation” ends and a fully sovereign Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital is created.

Germany’s Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul has said that Israel was in danger of becoming isolated and Germany was trying to prevent that.

“Israel must always find friends, partners and supporters in the international community. And that is currently in danger in this situation. And if there is one country that has a responsibility to prevent this, then in my view it is Germany,” Wadephul told reporters on a trip to Israel.