In the past few days, Arab governments have urged Hamas to disarm and surrender control of Gaza, after a number of Western countries - including France and Canada - announced plans to recognise a state of Palestine. The UK said it would if Israel did not meet certain conditions by September.

Sir Keir Starmer has said the UK will recognise a Palestinian state if certain conditions were not met by Israel

Hamas has refused to disarm and will only surrender weapons once an autonomous Palestinian nation exists with Jerusalem serving as its capital. Saturday's announcement from the Palestinian militant organisation said that "armed resistance cannot be relinquished except through the full restoration of our national rights,