Latest news with #STARMER
Scottish Sun
3 days ago
- Politics
- Scottish Sun
My girl, 10, is still traumatised by Hamas hostage hell… Starmer's insane plan to recognise Palestine EMBOLDENS thugs
Thomas Hand explained why he feels 'lucky' despite his family's ordeal 'SHAMEFUL' STARMER My girl, 10, is still traumatised by Hamas hostage hell… Starmer's insane plan to recognise Palestine EMBOLDENS thugs SIR Keir Starmer's plan to recognise Palestine as a state is "insane", the father of hostage Emily Hand has blasted. Embattled father Thomas, who said he and his young daughter will forever be traumatised by October 7, warned it will only serve to "embolden" Hamas. Advertisement 6 Thomas said daughter Emily is now 'doing amazing' after her ordeal Credit: Supplied 6 Emily was reunited with her dad after 50 days in captivity Credit: Reuters 6 The youngster was snatched by Hamas while on a sleepover at her friend's house He said they constantly now live in fear of a repeat of the atrocity - and warned Britain recognising Palestine as a state is a "carrot" and "reward" for the evil terror group. Brave Thomas told The Sun: "I am shocked. Previous governments have agreed that it would not be in the best interests of peace. "It's rewarding terrorist actions. It's absolutely insane." Sir Keir last week outlined the government's route to recognising Palestine as a state last week. Advertisement The PM vowed the UK would act by the end of September - unless Israel agrees to a ceasefire, allows humanitarian aid into Gaza, halts West Bank annexation plans, and commits to serious peace talks. But Donald Trump, political rivals of the Labour leader and the families of hostages are among the chorus of voices slapping down the move. Thomas, 65, added: "All the pressure is on Israel - you must do this or the UK will recognise a Palestinian state. "That's like a stick to us, but it's like a carrot to them. [They think] let's carry on with this war. Advertisement "They were two days to a peace deal and then [they] came out with this statement and that peace deal went off the table. "It emboldens them. It reinforces them. It's a very shameful decision." Starmer vows UK will recognise Palestine in weeks unless Israel ends crisis – but critics blast 'reward' for Hamas Fighting back tears, Thomas insisted not enough is being done to bring back the remaining 50 hostages - 20 of whom are believed to still be alive. He believes Sir Keir's plan could throw their chances of rescue into jeopardy. Advertisement And Thomas said he and daughter Emily - who spent 50 days in Hamas' clutches - fear Hamas could launch a similar attack to October 7. Emily, 10, and her dad are among countless innocents who have been left permanently scarred by the unspeakable horror they were put through that day. But despite the hell they suffered, Thomas believes his family were among the "lucky" ones. He said: "I had my eight-year-old daughter kidnapped for 50 days, the mother of my two older children murdered. We got away lightly. Advertisement "One of my best friends - Leanne Sharabi - and her two teenage kids, executed. "They [Hamas] had too many hostages that day, so the orders went out to kill them. Don't take anymore back, just kill them. "There were whole families wiped out. "Crazy statements, but only losing my ex-wife and I thought I'd lost my daughter, I consider it lucky. Crazy statements." Advertisement Will there be a peace deal? AS of August 2025, a lasting Israel-Hamas peace deal hangs in the balance. A January 19 ceasefire saw 25 Israeli hostages and 1,900 Palestinian prisoners freed, but collapsed by March 18 after Israeli airstrikes killed over 400 in Gaza. July's US-backed 60-day truce push aimed to free remaining hostages and spark permanent talks, but stalled in Cairo. Hamas demands a full Israeli withdrawal; Israel insists on Hamas disarming. With 90 Palestinians killed in recent strikes and both sides dug in—Israel on security, Hamas on ending the war—talks teeter. Mediators see glimmers of hope, but mistrust and clashing red lines keep peace elusive. Dublin-born Thomas - who grew up in London - travelled to Israel three decades ago to volunteer on a kibbutz near Gaza. He had two children with wife Narkis before they split and then had Emily with new partner Liat, who died of breast cancer when Emily was two. Narkis, 52, was killed on October 7 when 400 Hamas thugs rampaged through the Be'eri kibbutz. Emily was on a sleepover at a pal's home when she was snatched and Thomas survived by barricading himself inside a safe room for 19 hours. Advertisement The youngster - who was rushed from house-to-house by Hamas fighters during gun battles with Israeli troops - turned nine while in Gaza before her release. She ran into her dad's open arms after 50 days in captivity traumatised and broken. Now 10-years-old, Thomas said Emily will forever be affected by her ordeal - and that he can no longer shield her from the inhumanity hostages are still suffering. Last week, warped Hamas released harrowing footage of two starved, pale and broken hostages - Evyatar David, 24, and Rom Braslavski, 21. Advertisement 6 Thomas Hand has hit out at Sire Keir Starmer's proposal to recognise the Palestinian state Credit: Louis Wood - Commissioned by The Sun. 6 Israeli hostage Evyatar David looking weak and malnourished Credit: AFP 6 Rom Braslavski, 21, was seen in tears as he's held captive by Hamas terrorists "At first I obviously totally protected her from seeing stuff like that," Thomas said. Advertisement "But more over time she wanted to see. She almost has to see. "Every child in the country knows what's going on. Some of them were involved in it. "Emily wants to see how our hostage are doing, surviving." After her release, Emily's weight had crashed, her clothes and hair were matted and filthy and she was unable to speak in more than a whisper. Advertisement But Thomas told how Emily is now "doing amazing" and that they are doing everything they can to "bring her back to a normal childhood". He added: "She's having fun, surfing loads and horse riding. "She's put on her weight, she's out in the sun, she's getting tanned. She's doing childish, girly things again. "But she will always be that little bit more mature than all her friends the same age. Advertisement "She's been through something no child, no human being, should ever be through." It comes as Israel said Friday it will intensify the 22-month war with Hamas by taking over Gaza City - renewing international calls for an end to the conflict. It will likely require mobilising thousands of troops and forcibly evacuating civilians.
Straits Times
29-07-2025
- Politics
- Straits Times
Explainer-Why is Britain recognising a Palestinian state, and which other countries have done the same?
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox LONDON - Britain announced on Tuesday it was prepared to recognise a Palestinian state in September unless the Israeli government takes substantive steps to end the "appalling situation" in Gaza and meets other conditions. Prime Minister Keir Starmer's decision follows in the footsteps of France, after President Emmanuel Macron confirmed his country's intention to pursue recognition of a Palestinian state and to encourage other partners to do the same. Below are some details about Starmer's announcement, driven by a rising global outcry over starvation and devastation in Gaza amid Israel's war against Hamas militants, as well as other nations' position on having Palestinian statehood recognised. WHAT DID STARMER SAY? Starmer said Britain would make the move at the United Nations General Assembly unless Israel took substantive steps to allow more aid to enter Gaza, makes clear there will be no annexation of the West Bank, and commits to a long-term peace process that delivers a "two-state solution" - a Palestinian state co-existing in peace alongside Israel. He said his government would make an assessment in September on "how far the parties have met these steps", but that no one would have a veto over the decision. The prime minister reiterated that there was "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". WHY DID STARMER DO THIS? Successive British governments have said they will formally recognise a Palestinian state when the time is right, without ever setting a timetable or specifying the necessary conditions. Starmer said the move was timed to affect the situation on the ground in Gaza at a moment when the prospect of a two-state solution was under grave threat. A growing number of lawmakers in Starmer's Labour Party have been asking him to recognise a Palestinian state to put pressure on Israel. HOW COULD THIS AFFECT U.S.-UK RELATIONS? Starmer has been building warm relations with U.S. President Donald Trump, and Britain has rarely strayed from the United States on foreign policy matters. The two leaders met in Scotland on Monday, but U.S. President Donald Trump said he and Starmer did not discuss Britain's plan during their meeting. When asked on Monday whether he agreed with Starmer's earlier position on Palestinian statehood being a concrete step towards a lasting peace, Trump said: "I don't mind him taking a position. I'm looking for getting people fed right now - that's the number one position. You have a lot of starving people." Following France's announcement last week, Trump's Secretary of State Marco Rubio outright rejected the plan, calling it a "reckless decision that only serves Hamas". HOW DID FRANCE REACT TO BRITAIN'S DECISION? French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot wrote on X that Britain was "joining the momentum initiated by France for the recognition of the state of Palestine". "Together, through this pivotal decision and our combined efforts, we are putting an end to the endless cycle of violence and reopening the prospect of peace in the region," Barrot said. "Nothing can stand in the way of a just and clear idea." WHAT HAS BEEN BRITAIN'S POSITION ON ISRAEL SINCE OCTOBER 7? At the start of the Gaza war in October 2023, when Starmer was the opposition leader, he fully backed Israel's right to defend itself. But his stance has shifted over the years to a tougher approach to Israel, especially since his election as prime minister just over a year ago. His government dropped the previous administration's challenge over arrest warrants issued by the International Criminal Court for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and has suspended some weapon sales to Israel. Last month, Britain sanctioned two far-right Israeli cabinet ministers, Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich, accusing them of repeatedly inciting violence against Palestinians. WHO ELSE HAS RECOGNISED PALESTINIAN STATEHOOD? Last year, Ireland, Norway and Spain recognised a Palestinian state with its borders to be demarcated as they were prior to the 1967 Middle East war, when Israel captured the West Bank, Gaza and East Jerusalem. However, they also recognised that those borders may change in any eventual talks to reach a final settlement, and that their decisions did not diminish their belief in Israel's fundamental right to exist in peace and security. About 144 of the 193 member states of the United Nations recognise Palestine as a state, including most of the global south as well as Russia, China and India. But only a handful of the 27 European Union members do so, mostly former Communist countries as well as Sweden and Cyprus. The U.N. General Assembly approved the de facto recognition of the sovereign state of Palestine in November 2012 by upgrading its observer status at the world body to "non-member state" from "entity". WHO COULD BE NEXT? Starmer's decision may put pressure on other major countries like Germany, Australia, Canada and Japan to take the same path. Germany said on Friday it was not planning to recognise Palestinian statehood in the short term, with its priority to make "long-overdue progress" towards a two-state solution - Israel and a Palestinian state co-existing in peace. Italy's foreign minister said recognition must occur simultaneously with the recognition of Israel by a new Palestinian state. "A Palestinian state that does not recognise Israel means that the problem will not be resolved," Antonio Tajani told a gathering in Rome. REUTERS
Time of India
29-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Why is Britain recognising a Palestinian state, and which other countries have done the same?
LONDON: Britain announced on Tuesday it was prepared to recognise a Palestinian state in September unless the Israeli government takes substantive steps to end the "appalling situation" in Gaza and meets other conditions. Prime Minister Keir Starmer's decision follows in the footsteps of France, after President Emmanuel Macron confirmed his country's intention to pursue recognition of a Palestinian state and to encourage other partners to do the same. Explore courses from Top Institutes in Please select course: Select a Course Category Project Management Healthcare Others Digital Marketing Public Policy healthcare Finance Data Science Data Analytics Management Operations Management Degree Artificial Intelligence Data Science MBA Cybersecurity others Leadership Design Thinking MCA Technology CXO PGDM Product Management Skills you'll gain: Project Planning & Governance Agile Software Development Practices Project Management Tools & Software Techniques Scrum Framework Duration: 12 Weeks Indian School of Business Certificate Programme in IT Project Management Starts on Jun 20, 2024 Get Details Skills you'll gain: Portfolio Management Project Planning & Risk Analysis Strategic Project/Portfolio Selection Adaptive & Agile Project Management Duration: 6 Months IIT Delhi Certificate Programme in Project Management Starts on May 30, 2024 Get Details Below are some details about Starmer's announcement, driven by a rising global outcry over starvation and devastation in Gaza amid Israel's war against Hamas militants, as well as other nations' position on having Palestinian statehood recognised. WHAT DID STARMER SAY? Starmer said Britain would make the move at the United Nations General Assembly unless Israel took substantive steps to allow more aid to enter Gaza, makes clear there will be no annexation of the West Bank, and commits to a long-term peace process that delivers a " two-state solution " - a Palestinian state co-existing in peace alongside Israel. He said his government would make an assessment in September on "how far the parties have met these steps", but that no one would have a veto over the decision. Live Events The prime minister reiterated that there was "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". WHY DID STARMER DO THIS? Successive British governments have said they will formally recognise a Palestinian state when the time is right, without ever setting a timetable or specifying the necessary conditions. Starmer said the move was timed to affect the situation on the ground in Gaza at a moment when the prospect of a two-state solution was under grave threat. A growing number of lawmakers in Starmer's Labour Party have been asking him to recognise a Palestinian state to put pressure on Israel. HOW COULD THIS AFFECT U.S.-UK RELATIONS? Starmer has been building warm relations with U.S. President Donald Trump , and Britain has rarely strayed from the United States on foreign policy matters. The two leaders met in Scotland on Monday, but U.S. President Donald Trump said he and Starmer did not discuss Britain's plan during their meeting. When asked on Monday whether he agreed with Starmer's earlier position on Palestinian statehood being a concrete step towards a lasting peace, Trump said: "I don't mind him taking a position. I'm looking for getting people fed right now - that's the number one position. You have a lot of starving people." Following France's announcement last week, Trump's Secretary of State Marco Rubio outright rejected the plan, calling it a "reckless decision that only serves Hamas". HOW DID FRANCE REACT TO BRITAIN'S DECISION? French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot wrote on X that Britain was "joining the momentum initiated by France for the recognition of the state of Palestine". "Together, through this pivotal decision and our combined efforts, we are putting an end to the endless cycle of violence and reopening the prospect of peace in the region," Barrot said. "Nothing can stand in the way of a just and clear idea." WHAT HAS BEEN BRITAIN'S POSITION ON ISRAEL SINCE OCTOBER 7? At the start of the Gaza war in October 2023, when Starmer was the opposition leader, he fully backed Israel's right to defend itself. But his stance has shifted over the years to a tougher approach to Israel, especially since his election as prime minister just over a year ago. His government dropped the previous administration's challenge over arrest warrants issued by the International Criminal Court for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu , and has suspended some weapon sales to Israel. Last month, Britain sanctioned two far-right Israeli cabinet ministers, Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich, accusing them of repeatedly inciting violence against Palestinians. WHO ELSE HAS RECOGNISED PALESTINIAN STATEHOOD? Last year, Ireland, Norway and Spain recognised a Palestinian state with its borders to be demarcated as they were prior to the 1967 Middle East war, when Israel captured the West Bank, Gaza and East Jerusalem. However, they also recognised that those borders may change in any eventual talks to reach a final settlement, and that their decisions did not diminish their belief in Israel's fundamental right to exist in peace and security. About 144 of the 193 member states of the United Nations recognise Palestine as a state, including most of the global south as well as Russia, China and India. But only a handful of the 27 European Union members do so, mostly former Communist countries as well as Sweden and Cyprus. The U.N. General Assembly approved the de facto recognition of the sovereign state of Palestine in November 2012 by upgrading its observer status at the world body to "non-member state" from "entity". WHO COULD BE NEXT? Starmer's decision may put pressure on other major countries like Germany, Australia, Canada and Japan to take the same path. Germany said on Friday it was not planning to recognise Palestinian statehood in the short term, with its priority to make "long-overdue progress" towards a two-state solution - Israel and a Palestinian state co-existing in peace. Italy's foreign minister said recognition must occur simultaneously with the recognition of Israel by a new Palestinian state. "A Palestinian state that does not recognise Israel means that the problem will not be resolved," Antonio Tajani told a gathering in Rome.
