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DW
3 hours ago
- Politics
- DW
Middle East: Support grows for Palestinian statehood – DW – 07/30/2025
More than a dozen countries have joined France in calling on more countries to recognize a Palestinian state amid the crisis in Gaza. DW has United Kingdom will recognize Palestinian statehood in September unless the Israeli government takes significant steps to end the "appalling situation" in Gaza and meets other conditions, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said Tuesday. Israel rejected Starmer's ultimatum, calling it a "reward for Hamas," comments that were repeated by US President Donald Trump. UK Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander responded to the Israeli claim, saying: "This is not a reward for Hamas. Hamas is a vile terrorist organisation that has committed appalling atrocities." "This is about the Palestinian people," she told LBC radio. "It's about those children that we see in Gaza who are starving to death." "We've got to ratchet up pressure on the Israeli government to lift the restrictions to get aid back into Gaza," she added. Alexander also spoke on the BBC's Today Program, rejecting accusations that the government had changed its position for political reasons. She stated that the Labor Party has a "longstanding commitment" to recognizing the State of Palestine as part of achieving a two-state solution, adding that support for Palestinian statehood had been part of the party's 2024 manifesto. The UK, along with the United States, the EU and others, designates Hamas as a terrorist organization. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video The foreign ministers of 15 countries issued a joint statement following a UN conference in New York on Tuesday aimed at reviving a two-state solution between Israelis and the Palestinians. The conference was hosted by France and Saudi Arabia. It had been planned to take place earlier in the year but was postponed following Israel's strikes on Iran. "In New York, together with 14 other countries, France is issuing a collective appeal: we express our desire to recognize the State of Palestine and invite those who have not yet done so to join us," French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot wrote on X. In the statement, 15 signatories affirmed their "unwavering commitment to the vision of the two-state solution." Nine of the signatories have not yet recognized Palestinian statehood, including Australia, Canada and New Zealand. They expressed "the willingness or the positive consideration of their countries" to move toward recognition. The other signing countries were: Andorra, Finland, Iceland, Ireland, Luxembourg, Malta, Norway, Portugal, San Marino, Slovenia and Spain. President Emmanuel Macron announced plans last week to formally recognize Palestinian statehood in September, sparking strong opposition from Israel and the United States. This blog will cover the latest developments across the Middle East, where hundreds of thousands of Palestinians are at risk of death by starvation in Gaza. The humanitarian crisis has led to several Western countries saying that they will recognize a Palestinian state as a means to put pressure on Israel. France has said it will officially recognize Palestine in September, ahead of the 80th UN General Assembly. The UK also announced on Tuesday that it would recognize Palestinian statehood unless Israel commits to a ceasefire and long-term peace process. Israel rejected the British ultimatum. Follow along with this blog for up-to-date reports, correspondents' analyses, and explainers on the unfolding situation in Gaza.
Gulf Today
4 hours ago
- Politics
- Gulf Today
UK rejects criticism that move to recognise Palestinian state rewards Hamas
Britain on Wednesday rejected criticism that it was rewarding the Palestinian group Hamas by setting out plans to recognise 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. Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer delivers a statement inside No. 10 Downing Street on the day the cabinet was recalled to discuss the situation in Gaza, in London, Britain, on Tuesday. Reuters 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 organisation 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.' People take part in a protest outside Downing Street in London, on Tuesday, as Prime Minister Keir Starmer gathered senior ministers for an urgent Cabinet meeting on Gaza. AP France announced last week it would recognise Palestinian statehood in September. Successive British governments have said they would recognise 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. Reuters
Middle East Eye
4 hours ago
- Politics
- Middle East Eye
UK rejects criticism that move to recognise Palestinian state rewards Hamas
Britain on Wednesday rejected criticism that it was rewarding Hamas by setting out plans to recognise a Palestinian state unless Israel took steps to improve the situation in Gaza and bring about peace. 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. "This is about the Palestinian people. It's about those children that we see in Gaza who are starving to death," British Transport Minister Heidi Alexander, designated by the government to respond to questions in a series of media interviews on Wednesday, told LBC radio. 'We've got to ratchet up pressure on the Israeli government to lift the restrictions to get aid back into Gaza.'
Business Recorder
5 hours ago
- Politics
- Business Recorder
UK rejects criticism that move to recognise Palestinian state rewards Hamas
LONDON: Britain on Wednesday rejected criticism that it was rewarding Hamas by setting out plans to recognise 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. Britain, France, Germany to hold Gaza 'emergency call' Friday: UK U.S. 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 organisation 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 recognise Palestinian statehood in September. Successive British governments have said they would recognise 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 U.N. 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.
Reuters
6 hours ago
- Politics
- Reuters
UK rejects criticism that move to recognise Palestinian state rewards Hamas
LONDON, July 30 (Reuters) - Britain on Wednesday rejected criticism that it was rewarding militant group Hamas by setting out plans to recognise 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. U.S. 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 organisation 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 recognise Palestinian statehood in September. Successive British governments have said they would recognise 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 U.N. 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.
