Latest news with #GazaCrisis
CBC
36 minutes ago
- Politics
- CBC
Canada weighing recognition of Palestinian statehood: source
Carney expected to meet with cabinet Wednesday to discuss Middle East crisis The Canadian government is weighing whether to recognize Palestinian statehood, and whether that recognition would come with conditions, according to a government source. No decision has been made yet, the source says, but Prime Minister Mark Carney is expected to hold a virtual cabinet meeting Wednesday afternoon, at which time the situation in the Middle East will be discussed. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said Tuesday the U.K. will recognize a Palestinian state in September unless Israel agrees to a ceasefire in Gaza, allows the UN to bring in aid and takes other steps toward long-term peace. The two leaders spoke Tuesday, according to Carney's office, about the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and the U.K.'s statement on the recognition of a Palestinian state. WATCH | Starmer says U.K. plans to recognize Palestinian state: Media Video | U.K. will recognize Palestinian statehood by fall unless Israel takes 'substantive steps' on Gaza, PM says Caption: British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, speaking Tuesday from London as his government faced protests over the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, said the U.K's goal remains a 'safe and secure Israel' alongside a 'viable and sovereign Palestinian state.' Open full embed in new tab Loading external pages may require significantly more data usage than loading CBC Lite story pages. France announced a similar plan last week, but without conditions. French President Emmanuel Macron said Friday there was "no alternative" to recognizing the state of Palestine and intends to do so at the UN General Assembly in September. Asked last week whether he would follow France, Carney said Canada will continue to support a two-state solution with "a free and viable Palestine living in peace and side-by-side in peace and security with Israel." Days later, Ottawa announced $10 million in funding for the Palestinian Authority's preparations to lead a globally recognized country that includes Gaza and the West Bank. The federal government is also adding $30 million to its humanitarian funding for desperate Palestinians in the Gaza Strip. Trump says recognition rewards Hamas Starmer, who is under mounting domestic pressure over the issue as scenes of hunger in Gaza horrify many Britons, convened a rare summertime cabinet meeting to discuss the situation in Gaza. It came after he discussed the crisis with U.S. President Donald Trump during a meeting in Scotland on Monday. Trump told reporters he didn't mind Starmer "taking a position" on statehood. But he told reporters on board Air Force One travelling back to the U.S. that recognizing a Palestinian state would reward Palestinian militant group Hamas. "You're rewarding Hamas if you do that. I don't think they should be rewarded," he said. Starmer said Tuesday that Britain will recognize a Palestinian state before the United Nations General Assembly "unless the Israeli government takes substantive steps to end the appalling situation in Gaza, agree to a ceasefire and commit to a long-term, sustainable peace, reviving the prospect of a two-state solution." "And this includes allowing the UN to restart the supply of aid, and making clear there will be no annexations in the West Bank," he said. Israel's Foreign Ministry rejects British move Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu rejects the two-state solution on both nationalistic and security grounds. "The shift in the British government's position at this time, following the French move and internal political pressures, constitutes a reward for Hamas and harms efforts to achieve a ceasefire in Gaza and a framework for the release of hostages," Israel's Foreign Ministry said on X. Starmer also repeated U.K. demands that Hamas release all the hostages it holds, agree to a ceasefire, disarm and "accept that they will play no part in the government of Gaza." In a televised statement, he said that his government will assess in September "how far the parties have met these steps" before making a final decision on recognition. Britain has long supported the idea of an independent Palestinian state existing alongside Israel, but has said recognition should come as part of a negotiated two-state solution to the conflict. But Starmer said Tuesday Britain was willing to take the step because "the very idea of a two-state solution is reducing and feels further away today than it has for many years." He said that despite the set of conditions he set out, Britain believes that "statehood is the inalienable right of the Palestinian people." Announcement follows France France would become the first among the G7 to recognize a Palestinian state. More than 140 countries recognize a Palestinian state, including a dozen in Europe. As with France, British recognition would be largely symbolic, but could increase diplomatic pressure for an end to the conflict — especially as Starmer appears to have the tacit approval of Trump. Both Israel and Hamas are facing pressure at home and abroad to reach a deal following almost two years of war, with the humanitarian situation inside Gaza deteriorating and Israelis worried about the conditions in which hostages are being held. Netanyahu condemned Macron's decision, saying that such a move "rewards terror and risks creating another Iranian proxy."
Al Arabiya
2 hours ago
- Politics
- Al Arabiya
Jordan's King Abdullah says Gaza crisis worst in modern history
Jordan's King Abdullah II says that the crisis in Gaza is the worst in modern history, AFP reports. Developing
Asharq Al-Awsat
2 hours ago
- Politics
- Asharq Al-Awsat
UK Rejects Criticism That Move to Recognize Palestinian State Rewards Hamas
Britain on Wednesday rejected criticism that it was rewarding the Hamas group by setting out plans to recognize a Palestinian state unless Israel took steps to improve the situation in Gaza and bring about peace. The sight of emaciated Gaza children has shocked the world in recent days and on Tuesday, a hunger monitor warned that a worst-case scenario of famine was unfolding there and immediate action was needed to avoid widespread death. Prime Minister Keir Starmer's ultimatum, setting a September deadline for Israel, prompted an immediate rebuke from his counterpart in Jerusalem, who said it rewarded Hamas and punished the victims of their 2023 cross-border attack. US President Donald Trump said he did not think Hamas "should be rewarded" with recognition of Palestinian independence. Asked about that criticism, British Transport Minister Heidi Alexander - designated by the government to respond to questions in a series of media interviews on Wednesday - said it was not the right way to characterize Britain's plan. 'This is not a reward for Hamas. Hamas is a vile terrorist organization that has committed appalling atrocities. This is about the Palestinian people. It's about those children that we see in Gaza who are starving to death,' she told LBC radio. 'We've got to ratchet up pressure on the Israeli government to lift the restrictions to get aid back into Gaza.' France announced last week it would recognize Palestinian statehood in September. Successive British governments have said they would recognize a Palestinian state when it was most effective to do so. In a televised address on Tuesday, Starmer said that moment had now come, highlighting the suffering in Gaza and saying the prospect of a two-state solution - a Palestinian state coexisting in peace alongside Israel - was under threat. Starmer said Britain would make the move at the UN General Assembly in September unless Israel took substantive steps to allow more aid to enter Gaza, made clear there will be no annexation of the West Bank and committed to a long-term peace process that delivered a two-state solution.
Arab News
8 hours ago
- Politics
- Arab News
UK rejects criticism that move to recognize Palestinian state rewards Hamas
LONDON: Britain on Wednesday rejected criticism that it was rewarding militant group Hamas by setting out plans to recognize a Palestinian state unless Israel took steps to improve the situation in Gaza and bring about peace. The sight of emaciated Gaza children has shocked the world in recent days and on Tuesday, a hunger monitor warned that a worst-case scenario of famine was unfolding there and immediate action was needed to avoid widespread death. Prime Minister Keir Starmer's ultimatum, setting a September deadline for Israel, prompted an immediate rebuke from his counterpart in Jerusalem, who said it rewarded Hamas and punished the victims of their 2023 cross-border attack. US President Donald Trump said he did not think Hamas 'should be rewarded' with recognition of Palestinian independence. Asked about that criticism, British Transport Minister Heidi Alexander — designated by the government to respond to questions in a series of media interviews on Wednesday — said it was not the right way to characterise Britain's plan. 'This is not a reward for Hamas. Hamas is a vile terrorist organization that has committed appalling atrocities. This is about the Palestinian people. It's about those children that we see in Gaza who are starving to death,' she told LBC radio. 'We've got to ratchet up pressure on the Israeli government to lift the restrictions to get aid back into Gaza.' France announced last week it would recognize Palestinian statehood in September. Successive British governments have said they would recognize a Palestinian state when it was most effective to do so. In a televised address on Tuesday, Starmer said that moment had now come, highlighting the suffering in Gaza and saying the prospect of a two-state solution — a Palestinian state co-existing in peace alongside Israel — was under threat. Starmer said Britain would make the move at the UN General Assembly in September unless Israel took substantive steps to allow more aid to enter Gaza, made clear there will be no annexation of the West Bank and committed to a long-term peace process that delivered a two-state solution.
Time of India
12 hours ago
- Politics
- Time of India
India Urges Immediate Ceasefire, Unhindered Aid Flow to Gaza at UN Meet
/ Jul 30, 2025, 09:24AM IST At the United Nations High-Level International Conference on the Peaceful Settlement of the Question of Palestine, India reaffirmed its unwavering support for the two-state solution and emphasized the urgent need for direct dialogue between the conflicting parties. Represented by Ambassador Harish P., India called for an immediate ceasefire, the release of all hostages, and the unimpeded flow of humanitarian aid to Gaza. Highlighting the devastating human toll, including damage to medical facilities and prolonged school closures, India stressed that humanitarian assistance must remain outside the realm of politics. India also expressed its readiness to actively contribute to efforts that bring peace and stability to the region.#IndiaAtUN #Palestine #TwoStateSolution #GazaCrisis #UNConference #PeaceInMiddleEast #HumanitarianAid #CeasefireNow #IndiaForPeace #DiplomacyFirst
