On Sunday Sir Keir Starmer declared the British government recognises the Palestinian state to which the terrorist organisation Hamas has declared “victory” in a bombshell statement which will cause a political backlash.
This is one of the most tumultuous decisions in British politics not seen in tens of years and the Prime Minister insisted that this is “not a reward for Hamas,” although it is very much being seen as one.
Mahmoud Mardaw, a senior Hamas official said Starmer’s announcement is a “a victory for Palestinian rights and the justice of our cause,” and the Telegraph reported that this will “send a clear message” to Israel.
The US President slammed Starmer’s decision and on Sunday evening Donald Trump insisted that this is “rewarding Hamas.”
Trump told reporters on Ait Force One, “I don’t think they should be rewarded. I am not in that camp, to be honest.”
Starmer believes that this will “revive the hope of peace and a two-state solution.”
The Prime Minister said, “With the actions of Hamas, the Israeli government escalating the conflict and settlement building being accelerated in the West Bank, the hope of a two-state solution is fading, but we cannot let that light go out.”
Starmer said that Hamas is a “brutal terror organisation,” adding, “We are clear this solution is not a reward for Hamas, because it means Hamas can have no future, no role in government, no role in security.”
The Prime Minister took aim at the Israeli government over their “cruel tactics” of not allowing aid to enter Gaza and the “utterly intolerable” bombing raids across Gaza.
Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister has slammed Starmer saying this is a “huge reward for terrorism” after the horrific Hamas 7 October attacks which saw innocent Israeli’s slaughtered and many captured and held hostage.
Netanyahu sent Starmer a warning that a “Palestinian stater will not be established west of the Jordan Rover,” this “will not happen.”
