Tel Aviv: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has strongly criticized UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer over his plan to recognize the State of Palestine, accusing him of rewarding what he called the “monstrous terrorism” of Hamas.
“Starmer rewards Hamas’s monstrous terrorism & punishes its victims. A jihadist state on Israel’s border TODAY will threaten Britain TOMORROW. Appeasement towards jihadist terrorists always fails. It will fail you too. It will not happen,” the Israeli Prime Minister’s Office posted on X on Wednesday.
Israel’s Foreign Ministry also condemned the move, warning that it would undermine efforts to secure a ceasefire in Gaza and the release of hostages.
“Israel rejects the statement by the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. The shift in the British government’s position at this time, following the French move and internal political pressures, constitutes a reward for Hamas and harms efforts to achieve a ceasefire in Gaza and a framework for the release of hostages,” the ministry said on X.
The comments came after Starmer announced on Tuesday that the UK would recognize the State of Palestine in September during the United Nations General Assembly to safeguard the viability of a two-state solution.
“I can confirm the UK will recognize the state of Palestine by the United Nations General Assembly in September unless the Israeli government takes substantive steps to end the appalling situation in Gaza, agree to a ceasefire and commit to a long-term, sustainable peace, reviving the prospect of a Two State Solution,” the British Prime Minister’s Office said in a statement.
The statement added that this included allowing the UN to resume aid supplies and giving assurances that there would be no annexations in the West Bank. It also called on Hamas to immediately release all hostages, agree to a ceasefire, disarm and accept that they would play no part in Gaza’s future governance.
An assessment on the progress of these steps will be made in September, the statement added.