UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Tuesday said Britain was prepared to recognise a Palestinian state in September at the United Nations General Assembly in response to growing public anger over the images of starving children in Gaza.

Starmer spoke a day after talks in Scotland with US President Donald Trump, who said he did "not mind" if Britain recognised a Palestinian state, though Washington – Israel's closest ally – has long declined to do so.

Britain, if it acts, would become the second Western power on the UN Security Council to do so after France last week, reflecting Israel's deepening isolation over its conduct in its war against Hamas in Gaza, where a humanitarian disaster has set in and the Palestinian death toll has risen above 60,000.

China and Russia are the only other world powers that are permanent members of the UN Security Council to recognise a Palestinian state.

Starmer said Britain would make the move unless Israel took substantive steps to allow more aid to enter Gaza, made clear there will be no annexation of the West Bank and committed to a long-term peace process that delivers a "two-state solution" – a Palestinian state co-existing in peace alongside Israel.

"The Palestinian people have endured terrible suffering," Starmer told reporters.

"Now, in Gaza, because of a catastrophic failure of aid, we see starving babies, children too weak to stand, images that will stay with us for a lifetime. The suffering must end."

In response, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Starmer’s plan has rewarded "Hamas monstrous terrorism and punishes its victims."

"A jihadist state on Israel's border today will threaten Britain tomorrow," Netanyahu added.

The sight of emaciated Gaza children has shocked the world in recent days.

Earlier on Tuesday, a hunger monitor warned that worst-case scenario of famine was unfolding in Gaza and immediate action was needed to avoid widespread death.

Israel has denied pursuing a policy of starvation. Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said on Tuesday the situation in Gaza was "tough" but there were lies circulating about starvation there.

With international criticism intensifying, Israel announced steps over the weekend to ease aid access. But the UN World Food Programme said it was not getting the permissions it needed to deliver enough aid. (Reuters)