Latest news with #peaceprocess
RNZ News
a day ago
- RNZ News
Pacific news in brief for 31 July
Photo: RNZ / Mark Papalii New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon is due to address the Papua New Guinea Parliament on 5 August. Luxon will be in the country for two days, where he will meet with senior officials, including his counterpart James Marape. This comes as the two countries implement a partnership agreement, amidst Aotearoa's involvement in the Bougainville peace process. Luxon's first visit to the Pacific was in June last year. A man accused of vandalising the Samabula Shiv Temple in Suva, Fiji, three weeks ago has been judged unfit to stand trial. The accused appeared in the Suva Magistrates Court on Wednesday on one count of alleged sacrilege and one of throwing an object. A medical report presented in court found that the accused suffered from schizophrenia and was incapable of entering a plea. He was remanded in custody until 13 August, to undergo psychiatric care. Fiji has launched a crackdown on food safety after a survey of 111 uncovered widespread breaches last year. The issues range from pest infestations to expired licenses. Trade ministry Permanent Secretary, Shaheen Ali, revealed alarming findings at the opening of a high-level food safety workshop in Suva. reported nearly half of the surveyed restaurants lacked valid health licenses, more than 80 percent failed to display food grading certificates, and some showed signs of pest infestation. Ali said they are serious issues that demand decisive action to protect public health. An outrigger school in Samoa is also teaching water awareness, with concern about drownings in the nation. Su'a Jay Ah Fook Schuster and his wife started Alo Paopao Academy in Apia years ago, and they are now running a pilot program at Maninoa on the south coast of Upolu. Su'a told the ABC that last time he checked, there were about two drownings a month. There are plans to expand the program to include other villages. A woman who covered up her husband's abuse and impregnation of their underage daughter has received a suspended prison term in the Federated States of Micronesia. The Pohnpei Supreme Court sentenced the Fijian national to eight years in prison, suspended under strict conditions. She was found guilty of conspiracy, solicitation, failure to report criminal activity, harassment, intimidation, psychological abuse and the unlawful confinement of a family member. The husband was previously tried, convicted and sentenced for the incest-related crimes and served a prison sentence before being deported to Fiji. New Zealand is increasing its funding for drug detection dogs in the Pacific. The programme sends dogs and trained handlers in Fiji, Tonga, Samoa and the Cook Islands. From 2018, the NZ government invested NZ$3.8 million dollars; but that would be increased to NZ$6.7 million for the next five years. National Coordinator Police Dogs Inspector Todd Southall told 1News the five-year funding would focus on insider threats and corruption which were huge risks to the programme. Solomon Islands Prime Minister Jeremiah Manele has visited the Port of Auckland on his New Zealand tour. Manele expressed particular interest in the fisheries and maritime sectors, highlighting the Bina Harbour project in Malaita Province as a priority for Solomon Islands' national economic development.
Al Jazeera
2 days ago
- Politics
- Al Jazeera
How significant is UK's move to recognise Palestinian state, and why now?
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Tuesday announced that his country will recognise the state of Palestine by September, unless Israel takes 'substantive steps' to end its war on Gaza and commit to a genuine peace process. A government statement released following an emergency cabinet meeting on Tuesday said Starmer indicated the recognition could take place before the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York. The United Kingdom's decision comes days after Emmanuel Macron, the French president, said his country will recognise the state of Palestine. Here is what we know about the announcement and its implications. What did Starmer say? Starmer's announcement is being seen as a big change in British foreign policy. 'I've always said we will recognise a Palestinian state as a contribution to a proper peace process, at the moment of maximum impact for the two-state solution,' Starmer said. 'With that solution now under threat, this is the moment to act.' He added: 'So today, as part of this process towards peace, I can confirm that the UK will recognise the state of Palestine by the United Nations General Assembly in September, unless the Israeli government takes substantive steps to end the appalling situation in Gaza.' Britain's Foreign Secretary David Lammy, attending a UN conference in New York led by France and Saudi Arabia to promote the two-state solution, echoed the sentiment. Lammy said it was 'with the hand of history on our shoulders' that London planned to recognise Palestinian statehood, given Britain's pivotal role in Israel's creation through the 1917 Balfour Declaration. Responding to questions about the time of this decision, Starmer cited the 'intolerable' conditions in Gaza and growing alarm over the weakening prospects for a two-state solution. He said he wanted to ensure that the decision 'plays a part in changing the conditions on the ground, making sure that aid gets in'. 'It's done now because I am particularly concerned that the very idea of a two-state solution is reducing, and it feels further way today than it has for many years,' he said. The announcement came after an emergency cabinet meeting, highlighting the growing political pressure from within his Labour Party. The UK prime minister has been facing public pressure over Israel's devastating war on Gaza, which experts and rights organisations have dubbed an act of genocide. Israel has killed more than 60,000 Palestinians since it launched its offensive on October 7, 2023. Israel says its military onslaught was in response to the Hamas-led attacks that left at least 1,139 people dead in Israel, but rights groups have slammed its scorched earth tactics in Gaza. Starmer emphasised that the recognition of Palestine has long been a part of Labour Party policy and forms a central pillar of a broader peace initiative that the government has been developing over time. 'As our election manifesto said, Palestinian statehood is the inalienable right of the Palestinian people. It is not in the gift of any neighbour and is also essential to the long-term security of Israel,' a statement issued by the prime minister's office said. 'We are committed to recognising a Palestinian state as a contribution to a renewed peace process which results in a two-state solution, with a safe and secure Israel alongside a viable and sovereign Palestinian state.' What specific conditions did Starmer set for recognising Palestine? Starmer laid out a series of conditions he said Israel must fulfil if it wishes the UK not to recognise Palestinian statehood, which include: Take substantive steps to end the appalling situation in Gaza Agree to a ceasefire Commit to a long-term, sustainable peace, reviving the prospect of a two-state solution Allow the UN to restart the supply of aid Make clear there will be no annexations in the West Bank. The prime minister also reiterated the demands that remain in place for Hamas, which are: Release all captives Sign up to a ceasefire Commit to disarmament Acknowledge that they will play no part in the government of Gaza. The UK government will assess the extent to which the two parties, Israel and Hamas, have met its conditions before taking a call in September. What does recognising Palestine as a state mean, and which other countries have done so? As of now, the State of Palestine is recognised as a sovereign nation by 147 of the 193 UN member states, about 75 percent of the international community. Three other European countries, Spain, Ireland, and Norway, officially recognised Palestine last year. France will recognise a Palestinian state during the UNGA in September. According to experts, the recognition may have limited practical effect, but diplomatically, it could be significant, potentially pressuring the US, one of Israel's main backers, to reconsider its stance. 'Even if this is not a big step in the humanitarian sense – if you are starving in Gaza, these words of diplomats and politicians maybe don't matter that much – but diplomatically, this is massive. And what really struck me was the specificity of Starmer's demands,' William Lawrence, a former US diplomat, told Al Jazeera. 'And if the whole world, all turn to Trump with that sort of specific outline and common cause, it will have an effect on Trump. All of this matters, even if it doesn't fix the problem instantaneously. Everyone is moving in the right direction now, both in terms of pressuring Israel and in terms of pressuring the United States,' Lawrence added. Is the UK really preparing to recognise Palestine, and why now? According to Al Jazeera's Milena Veselinovic, Starmer is currently under significant pressure. 'He is under a lot of pressure, domestically, here from the public, as well as from his own members of parliament to make some move on this issue; people have been moved by those images of people starving in the last few days,' Veselinovic said while reporting from London. Last week, 221 members of parliament from nine political parties signed a letter addressed to Starmer and Foreign Secretary David Lammy, urging them to recognise a Palestinian state. That number has since risen to 255. 221 MPs, from 9 parties, have sent a joint letter to the Prime Minister & Foreign Secretary urging them to recognise Palestine as a state now — Sarah Champion (@SarahChampionMP) July 25, 2025 Veselinovic added that the UK is not promising to recognise a Palestinian state. '[This is not] like when the French President Macron said he will do that, he will recognise the Palestine state in September, this is a way of pressure that the UK government is hoping to apply on the Israeli government to try to improve the conditions on the ground in Gaza,' she added. Will it have any practical effect on the situation in Gaza? Lammy, the UK foreign secretary, said the move will hopefully 'affect the situation on the ground' and lead to a ceasefire in Gaza. The world had seen 'the most horrific scenes' in Gaza and the time had come to 'abate the suffering of the Palestinian people', he said speaking at the UN. Scepticism, however, remains high as some question the sincerity behind recent announcements. Al Jazeera's senior political analyst Bishara said leaders, including Starmer and Macron, continue to support Israel in its war on Gaza. 'We need to see some measures being taken other than just lofty rhetoric, because they are in no position to be talking about peace and justice when they are accomplices in genocide,' he said. Bishara also criticised the lack of specifics from the two leaders when they announced their plans to recognise a Palestinian state. 'Is it a state in 10 percent of the West Bank? Or is it a state on all territories occupied in 1967 – including East Jerusalem, the West Bank and Gaza – as contiguous sovereign territories?' he added. How has Israel responded? 'Starmer rewards Hamas's monstrous terrorism & punishes its victims,' Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu said on X. Israel's Ministry of Foreign Affairs also said the UK move 'harms efforts to achieve a ceasefire in Gaza and a framework for the release of hostages', adding that Starmer's announcement followed 'the French move and internal political pressures'. France became the first G7 member to announce its intention to recognise a Palestinian state, with President Macron describing the decision as part of the country's 'historical commitment to a just and lasting peace in the Middle East'. Israel rejects the statement by the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. 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… — Israel Foreign Ministry (@IsraelMFA) July 29, 2025
Arab News
2 days ago
- Politics
- Arab News
Australia's first Muslim MP calls for country to recognize Palestine
LONDON: Australia's first Muslim MP and government minister has said his country should recognize a Palestinian state, following in the footsteps of the UK as part of a tide of 'moral momentum.' The appeal by Labor's Ed Husic, who was elected in 2010, came as Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is to hold further talks with his British counterpart Keir Starmer in the coming days. Starmer pledged this week to recognize a Palestinian state in September if Israel fails to reach a ceasefire with Hamas, among other conditions. If Australia does the same, it would deprive Hamas of its power in Gaza and expedite the peace process, Husic said. 'Hamas is built largely on grievance. That grievance gets removed with the establishment of a state of Palestine, nurtured with the cooperation and support of the international community, progressed through the development of democratic institutions,' he added. The former minister said his Labor colleagues feel increasingly aggrieved over the situation in Gaza, calling on them to urge Australian recognition of a Palestinian state. 'There is a deep feeling within the caucus, about how right it is to recognize Palestine, and I would much rather that colleagues speak for themselves,' he added. Foreign Minister Penny Wong signed an international statement calling for an immediate ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. Albanese, however, declined to immediately follow Starmer's decision despite Australia's government previously signaling that it would move in unison with international partners on measures to address the crisis in Gaza. 'What I've said is that it's not the timeline, that's not what we're looking at. What we're looking at is the circumstances where recognition will advance the objective of the creation of two states,' Albanese said at Parliament House after speaking with Starmer this week. 'I've said for a long time, my entire political life, I've said I support two states … That's my objective — not making a statement, not giving a political point, but achieving peace.'
Telegraph
2 days ago
- Politics
- Telegraph
Hamas official: Recognising Palestine is a ‘victory'
A senior Hamas official has welcomed Sir Keir Starmer's promise to recognise Palestine, saying that 'victory and liberation are closer than we expected'. Basem Naim, formerly a minister in the terror group's government of Gaza, said: 'International support for Palestinian self-determination shows we are moving in the right direction.' It comes after Sir Keir was accused by Israel of rewarding Hamas by promising to recognise a Palestinian state in the absence of a peace process. On Wednesday, the prime minister also faced criticism from the families of hostages held by Hamas for failing to make their release a precondition to recognising Palestine. One British hostage freed earlier this year after 471 days in captivity said 'shame on you', in comments directed at Sir Keir, for 'rewarding terror'. 'This move does not advance peace—it risks rewarding terror. It sends a dangerous message: that violence earns legitimacy,' Emily Damari 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.' Downing Street is now under growing pressure to explain its approach, with some warning that it incentivises Hamas to avoid a ceasefire by keeping hostages in order to secure recognition. On Tuesday, the UK Government said it would join France in declaring recognition at the UN General Assembly in September. Unlike Emmanuel Macron, Sir Keir said the UK would act unless Israel agreed to a ceasefire in Gaza, allowed the UN to restart aid supplies, committed to annexation in the West Bank, and to a long-term peace based on a two-state solution. The announcement was immediately condemned by Israel. Hamas yet to comment officially Dr Basem Naim, who served as minister for health in Gaza between 2007 and 2012, welcomed the move. 'A time will come when those who played a role in this glorious epic will take pride - in the history of our nation and our cause,' he wrote, referring to the current Gaza war, which has seen approximately 60,000 deaths - although the figures are disputed. Hamas has not yet commented officially. Dr Naim now lives in Turkey but remains close to the group, and his words risk fuelling claims that the UK government has emboldened Hamas by its promised declaration. Bring Them Home Now said: '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 legitimizes 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.' It added: '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, said Sir Keir's plan 'risks delaying' the release of hostages. 'This is because the UK has said that it will recognise a Palestinian state unless Israel agrees a ceasefire,' he said. 'But the risk is that Hamas will continue to refuse to a ceasefire because if it agrees to one this would make U.K. recognition less likely. The Downing Street statement on Tuesday 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 the 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 October 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.' The UK-based Campaign Against Antisemitism described Sir Keir's declaration as 'morally indefensible'. 'This announcement sends the worst possible message: that mass murder, rape, and hostage-taking are legitimate paths to diplomatic gain,' the group said. Hamas wants to destroy Israel entirely Eager to portray themselves as the legitimate voice of the Palestinian people, Hamas has a history of making statements intended to suggest that international condemnation of Israel amounts to support for its actions. However, proponents of a two-state solution, such as Britain, do not envisage a role for Hamas. The terror group wants to destroy Israel entirely. International hopes for a sustainable peace are mainly invested in the Palestinian Authority, based in Ramallah in the West Bank, which has formally accepted Israel's right to exist for decades and is an enemy of Hamas. In a significant move, the Arab League of 22 nations has this week put its weight behind a statement calling for Hamas to be disbanded and condemning its atrocity on October 7 2023, the first time many countries in the group have explicitly done so. 'In the context of ending the war in Gaza, Hamas must end its rule in Gaza and hand over its weapons to the Palestinian Authority, with international engagement and support, in line with the objective of a sovereign and independent Palestinian State,' reads the declaration.
Telegraph
2 days ago
- Politics
- Telegraph
Two words were missing from Starmer's speech: terrorism works
Even allowing for its bureaucratic tone, the 'read out' of Sir Keir Starmer's words from yesterday's Cabinet meeting on Gaza is stark: 'He said that because of the increasingly intolerable situation in Gaza and the diminishing prospect of a peace process towards a two-state solution, now was the right time to move this position forward. He said that the UK will recognise the state of Palestine in September, before UNGA, 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.' But there are two vital words missing from the note: terrorism works. Peaceful negotiations, as tried in Oslo, Camp David and the Annapolis process, have flattered only to deceive. None of them have led to the UK shifting its position on recognition. It has taken, instead, the worst massacre of Jews since the Holocaust. It has taken the impact of 1,200 dead Jews. But it won't just be other terrorist groups which realise that if you want to get the British Government to shift policy, it's time to scale up the scope of your terror. In the context of 'a peace process towards a two-state solution', as the Cabinet note puts it, the Prime Minister has come up with the worst possible way to recognise a Palestinian state, which makes the ceasefire he claims is his priority less rather than more likely than it is now. By announcing that if a ceasefire is agreed then the UK won't go ahead with recognition, Starmer has managed to find a new way to encourage Hamas not to agree to a ceasefire or to release the hostages. The onus in his conditions is placed entirely on Israel ('…the UK will recognise the state of Palestine in September…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'). Leave aside the moral outrage of placing the onus entirely on our supposed ally, the victim of an act of barbarity unprecedented in recent history, and focus instead on the practical meaning. Unless the UK Government is calling for Israel simply to surrender to Hamas – which, even for this government, seems unlikely – then it takes both participants to agree to a ceasefire. Israel cannot agree to terms which do not include the release of the hostages, and Sir Keir's conditions do not include that as a pre-requisite, leaving Hamas free to continue holding them (the PM called on Hamas to release the hostages, as he has done many times before, but as a lawyer he will be well aware that that demand was not one of the conditions – nor could it be, since the conditions are placed entirely on Israel). But even if Israel made clear it was ready to agree a deal – as it has already done repeatedly – that would still not be enough to satisfy Starmer's conditions if Hamas rejected a ceasefire, as it has already done repeatedly. Without a ceasefire, UK recognition goes ahead in September. The ball is in Hamas' hands. In other words, Sir Keir Starmer's announcement makes a ceasefire less likely than it was before he spoke yesterday, because it incentivises Hamas to carry on fighting to secure UK recognition of a Palestinian state.
