Donald Trump admitted he disagrees with Sir Keir Starmer over recognising a Palestinian state. The Prime Minister will reportedly go ahead with the move after the US President’s state visit to the UK wraps up.
Speaking at a joint press conference this afternoon, Mr Trump said: “Simply I want the hostages released now, right now, not one, two, we’ll give you three more tomorrow and you know like it’s been. But we’re the ones who’ve got all the hostages released. Many, many came to the Oval Office and I’ve heard stories like I never thought even possible.
“There was no humanity, no anything. I said to them was there any warmth shown during this stay, they offered you a little extra, they gave you a little extra… Every one of them said not even a little bit.”
Mr Trump added: “I always asked that question. Was there any warmth shown, even a little word of encouragement? And in every case the answer was no… We have to remember October 7, one of the worst most violent days in the history of the world. And I got to see the tapes and I wish I didn’t see them. And I want an end, I want an end, I want the hostages to be released.
“And I think it’s gonna be okay but it has been a brutal period of time. But this has been going on for a long time, this is not something that’s over the last year, two years, this has been around for decades. But we want it to end, we have to have the hostages back immediately, that’s what the people of Israel want, they want them back.
“Hamas said that they’re going to put the hostages up as bait, they’re going to put the hostages in front of any attack. And that’s pretty brutal, we haven’t heard that one in a long time. So I have a disagreement with the Prime Minister on that score. One of our few disagreements, actually.”
The Prime Minister has previously said he plans to recognise Palestinian statehood ahead of the United Nations general assembly in New York this month, if Israel does not meet a series of conditions to improve the humanitarian situation in Gaza.
High-level meetings at the UN summit involving world leaders begin next week.
Sir Keir has held off on formally announcing the UK will recognise a Palestinian state until after Mr Trump leaves for fear it could dominate a Thursday news conference the two men plan to hold, according to the Times.
The Prime Minister has found himself at odds with the US administration over the move, which is opposed to official recognition of Palestine.
However other nations, including France, Australia and Canada, have said they plan to take the same step at the UN gathering.