The war in Gaza will end when Hamas is defeated – not when Britain tells us it's over

Telegraph

3 days ago

Let me repeat something which is often forgotten – Israel wants peace. We want to live in peace, free from the threat of state-sponsored terrorism encircling us. Free from invasions by terrorist groups hell-bent on murdering as many of our citizens as possible.
But, appallingly, Hamas and the other proxies of Iran, want the exact opposite. In fact, they don't want Israel to even exist as a country.
So Sir Keir Starmer's decision to use the unilateral recognition of a Palestinian state as a negotiating tactic with Israel is not some bold diplomatic breakthrough. Nor is it some new, special lever, propelling us towards peace. It is the political equivalent of shouting in the wind — no doubt designed to reassure Labour's backbenchers that Number 10 is taking the electoral threat of Muslim independents and Mr. Corbyn's new party, seriously.
The most diplomatically tone-deaf part of this curious situation is that the British Government genuinely thinks that by recognising a Palestinian state it will act as some sort of leverage over Israel's policy towards the murderous terrorist organisation of Hamas which sits on our border.
Secondly, the UK's apparent policy seems to put many conditions on Israel, but yet none on Hamas. In September, if Hamas is still in control of Gaza, and if the hostages are still not released, Britain will recognise a Palestinian state with a terror organisation, proscribed in the UK, controlling Gaza and millions of Palestinians. Starmer's announcement almost incentivises Hamas not to release the hostages.
As Emily Damari, the extraordinarily brave dual British-Israeli citizen who survived 471 days in Hamas captivity said yesterday: 'This is not diplomacy – it is a moral failure. Shame on you, Prime Minister… this move does not confirm the UK will advance peace – it risks rewarding terror. It sends a dangerous message: that violence earns legitimacy.'
Emily is right.
This policy is as reckless as it is fanciful. Let's examine precisely what the UK is proposing to recognise here: a Palestinian entity, half of which is governed by a jihadist terror group, Hamas, and the other half of which is governed by a corrupt Palestinian Authority that literally pays salaries to the families of convicted Palestinian terrorists. I do not believe the British taxpayer would want their resources spent on strengthening or propping up any such entity.
This recognition comes as 50 hostages remain as captives of Hamas, after the worst massacre of Jews since the Holocaust. On October 7, 2023, Hamas terrorists invaded our country, butchered 1,200 civilians in their homes, raped women and burned entire families alive. And yet somehow, Britain under this Labour government during a war to remove the threat of Hamas has decided: 'Yes, now would be a good time to reward the Palestinian movement with statehood.'
Let me be very clear: Britain's recognition changes nothing.
It won't change Hamas's genocidal charter.
It won't change the fact that rockets are still being fired at our cities.
It won't bring a single Israeli or Palestinian closer to peace.
If there is to be any consequence from the British Government's absurd posturing it is this: Hamas will be emboldened. It will reward their terrorism. It shows the Palestinians that October 7 was worth it.
What Britain calls recognition, the Palestinian leadership calls vindication. Why should they now negotiate? Why compromise? Why reform, when Britain and France recognise a Palestinian state with no disarmament required, no renunciation of violence or terrorism, no need to sit at the negotiating table?
Meanwhile, in the real Middle East, grown-up diplomacy is taking place. The Abraham Accords have already proven that Arab-Israeli peace is best achieved through bilateral discussions. It requires courage, vision, and mutual interest. Israel now has flourishing diplomatic, economic, and security relations with the UAE, Bahrain and Morocco.
The tragic reality is that we have been down this road for decades. The Palestinians have been offered a state, time and time again. Whether in 1947, 2000, 2008 – the list goes on. Israel has tried to live in peace and security with our Palestinian neighbours based on a two-state solution model but on each occasion they have refused because they cannot accept the existence of a Jewish state in any borders. They refuse our very right to exist. When offered a viable opportunity for statehood, the Palestinians have chosen terrorism and intifadas. Israel does not have a viable partner for peace. We have repeatedly shown our willingness for peace, with Egypt, Jordan, and via the Abraham Accords. In 2005, every single Israeli Jew left Gaza. What did we get? You guessed it, more terror.
And while the British Government indulges in symbolic gestures, Israel will continue doing what we must: defending our people, defeating terrorism, and building real partnerships with those in our region who want a future based on coexistence – not destruction.
So to our friends in the UK: recognise what you wish. Make your declarations. Pass your motions. It will not do anything to solve your own domestic issues with radical Islam. It won't change the fact 75 per cent of all counter terrorism work carried out by MI5 is focused on Islamist extremism. You will recall a poll that found only a quarter of British Muslims believe Hamas committed murder and rape in Israel on October 7; recognising a Palestinian state wont change these shocking statistics. It won't bring home our hostages either. It won't remove the very real threat of Hamas from Gaza. And it certainly won't bring us any closer to the peace that we so dearly want.
The Labour Party is more concerned about its short term political future, contesting seats with large Muslim populations than it is about its relationship with the only democracy in the Middle East and a key security partner in the eastern Mediterranean. The British Government thinks that by dangling the sword of Palestinian recognition over Israel it will alter our government's policy, but it won't.
The war in Gaza will end when Hamas is defeated, when they are disarmed, and most importantly, when all the remaining hostages are home – not when Keir Starmer tells us it's over.