
British hostage Emily Damari: Shame on Starmer for rewarding terror
Emily Damari said the Prime Minister's approach risked 'rewarding terror' and warned the move would send a dangerous message that violence earns legitimacy.
Ms Damari, 29, who was released from captivity in January, said: 'By legitimising a state entity while Hamas still controls Gaza and continues its campaign of terror, you are not promoting a solution; you are prolonging the conflict.
'Recognition under these conditions emboldens extremists and undermines any hope for genuine peace. Shame on you.'
On Tuesday, the Prime Minister said he would recognise Palestine as a state in September unless Israel met four specific demands, including accepting a ceasefire.
Sir Keir also reiterated his calls for Hamas to release the remaining hostages captured in the attacks of Oct 7 2023 but did not explicitly say that is required before recognition of Palestinian statehood.
Downing Street is now under growing pressure to explain its approach, with some warning it incentivises Hamas to avoid a ceasefire by keeping hostages in order to secure recognition.
Meanwhile, the families of hostages held by Hamas have criticised Sir Keir for failing to make their release a precondition to recognising Palestine.
Two representatives of families who still have relatives held by Hamas issued criticism of the Prime Minister's approach on Wednesday morning.
Bring Them Home Now, a campaign group aimed at securing the release of hostages, published a statement posted on the social media site X.
The statement read: 'Recognising a Palestinian state while 50 hostages remain trapped in Hamas tunnels amounts to rewarding terrorism. Such recognition is not a step toward peace, but rather a clear violation of international law and a dangerous moral and political failure that legitimises horrific war crimes.
'The abduction of men, women, and children, who are being held against their will in tunnels while subjected to starvation and physical and psychological abuse, cannot and should not serve as the foundation for establishing a state.'
Another part read: 'Recognition of a Palestinian state before the hostages are returned will be remembered throughout history as validating terrorism as a legitimate pathway to political goals.'
Adam Wagner KC, a barrister who has represented families of hostages taken by Hamas, wrote on X: 'We are concerned that the UK's proposal risks delaying the release of the hostages.
'This is because the UK has said that it will recognise a Palestinian state unless Israel agrees a ceasefire. But the risk is that Hamas will continue to refuse to a ceasefire because if it agrees to one this would make UK recognition less likely.'
'Concern is to bring loved ones home'
Mr Wagner went on: 'The families are therefore deeply concerned that the UK's approach risks disincentivising Hamas from releasing the hostages. This risks doing exactly what the Prime Minister's statement says the UK will not do: reward Hamas for its heinous and illegal acts.
'The British hostage families take no position on the wider politics. Their concern is to bring their loved ones home, and time is fast running out.'
Sir Keir's change in position was revealed in a statement issued by Downing Street on Tuesday afternoon following an emergency Cabinet meeting earlier in the day.
The statement said that the Prime Minister had told Cabinet 'that the UK will recognise the state of Palestine in September, before UNGA (UN General Assembly), unless the Israeli government takes substantive steps to end the appalling situation in Gaza, reaches a ceasefire, makes clear there will be no annexation in the West Bank, and commits to a long-term peace process that delivers a two-state solution'.
The wording of the position made clear that Israel would have to meet all four conditions if it wanted to stop the recognition of Palestine in September.
The Downing Street statement also said Sir Keir had 'reiterated that there is no equivalence between Israel and Hamas and that our demands on Hamas remain, that they must release all the hostages, sign up to a ceasefire, accept that they will play no role in the government of Gaza, and disarm'.
However these demands were not explicitly linked to the declaration of Palestinian statehood, meaning they do not need to happen for recognition to take place.
Heidi Alexander, the Transport Secretary, was repeatedly pressed on the point on Sky News on Wednesday morning but would not say release of the hostages by Hamas was a necessary step that had to be taken before recognition of Palestine.
Ms Alexander said: 'We have always said right from day one that the hostages needed to be released.
'We're absolutely clear that Hamas is a vile terrorist organisation, it has committed heinous crimes and the wounds of Oct 7 will live forever in Israel and in the consciousness of the Israeli people.
'This isn't about Hamas. This is actually about delivering for the Palestinian people and making sure that we can get aid in.'
UK humiliated, says Tice
Richard Tice, the Reform deputy leader, told The Telegraph: 'Starmer's recognition of Palestine as a state sends a dangerous message, that acts of terrorism are somehow acceptable.
'The fact that he has made this decision before the hostages are returned validates the violence that occurred on Oct 7 and humiliates us on the international stage against our main strategic ally, the United States.
'This decision amounts to nothing more than appeasement of the far Left and a desperate attempt to claw back votes from Jeremy Corbyn.'

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an hour ago
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