Sir Keir Starmer has been warned he risks sending a “dangerous message” to Hamas after announcing that the UK will recognise a Palestinian state unless the crisis in Gaza is brought to an end. The Prime Minister said this week that the UK could take the major step of recognising Palestine’s statehood in September, unless Israel allows more aid into the region, stops annexing land in the West Bank and agrees to a long-term peace process beforehand.
Sir Keir also said that the Palestinian militant group Hamas must release all remaining Israeli hostages, sign up to a ceasefire, disarm and “accept that they will play no part in the government of Gaza”. But his change in tack has been welcomed by Basem Naim, a senior Hamas official who was formerly a member of the terror organisation’s government in the strip. “International support for Palestinian self-determination shows we are moving in the right direction,” he said. “Victory and liberation are closer than we expected.”
While Hamas has not commented officially on the Prime Minister’s statement, Dr Naim, who served as health minister from 2007 to 2012, remains close to the group and his endorsement could fuel claims that the prospect of recognition will only embolden the terror organisation.
It came after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described Sir Keir’s move as an attempt to “appease” the militant group, warning that it rewards their “monstrous terrorism”.
Emily Damari, a British-Israeli woman who was held hostage by Hamas for over a year also said the UK Prime Minister was “not standing on the right side of history”.
“As a dual British-Israeli citizen who survived 471 days in Hamas captivity, I am deeply saddened by Prime Minister Starmer’s decision to recognise Palestinian statehood,” she said in a post on Instagram.
“This move does not advance peace – it risks rewarding terror. It sends a dangerous message: that violence earns legitimacy.”
Adam Wagner KC, a barrister who has represented the families of hostages taken by Hamas, even suggested that Starmer’s plan could even delay the release of the remaining hostages.
“The UK has said that it will recognise a Palestinian state unless Israel agrees a ceasefire,” he told The Telegraph. “But the risk is that Hamas will continue to refuse a ceasefire because if it agrees to one this would make UK recognition less likely.”
A Downing Street statement released on Tuesday said the UK’s “message to the terrorists of Hamas is unchanged but unequivocal: they must immediately release all of the hostages, sign up to a ceasefire, disarm, and accept that they will play no part in the government of Gaza”.