Tel Aviv/London, July 30 – Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has sharply criticized the United Kingdom’s evolving stance on Palestinian statehood, accusing the British government of "appeasement towards jihadist terrorists" following its warning that it may formally recognize a Palestinian state unless Israel scales back its military campaign in Gaza and allows greater humanitarian access.
The statement came after British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, under increasing domestic and parliamentary pressure, announced on Tuesday that the UK would move to recognize Palestinian statehood from September 2025, should Israel fail to meet conditions related to humanitarian relief and settlement activity. Starmer warned that continued Israeli military escalation and expansion in the West Bank would compel Britain to take decisive diplomatic steps in favor of a two-state solution.
Netanyahu condemned the announcement, asserting that it risked emboldening Hamas, the militant group that controls Gaza, and warned that such a policy shift could lead to the establishment of a "jihadist state" threatening both Israeli and British security.
“Appeasement towards jihadist terrorists always fails,” Netanyahu declared in a post on X (formerly Twitter). “It will not happen.”
Responding to criticism, the Starmer administration clarified that it does not envision any role for Hamas in Gaza’s post-conflict governance and firmly rejected accusations that the policy shift rewards terrorism. The UK reiterated its long-standing commitment to a two-state solution, envisioning “a safe and secure Israel alongside a viable and sovereign Palestinian state.”
However, Israeli officials, including Netanyahu, remain staunchly opposed to a two-state framework. The Israeli government has continued to advance settlement construction in occupied Palestinian territories and maintains a system of control that multiple international human rights organizations, including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, have described as apartheid.
Tensions between Israel and the Palestinians escalated sharply in October 2023, when Hamas launched a deadly cross-border assault from Gaza that killed approximately 1,200 people and led to the capture of dozens of Israeli hostages. Israel responded with a broad military campaign in Gaza, which, according to local health authorities in the enclave, has resulted in the deaths of more than 59,000 people to date.
On Monday, prominent Israeli human rights organization B’Tselem published a report accusing the Israeli government of committing acts of genocide in Gaza, citing an extensive review of official statements and the cumulative humanitarian toll of the offensive.
While the UK has yet to officially recognize a Palestinian state, the shift in tone brings it closer to the position of the majority of the international community, including China, India, and Russia, which already extend such recognition. Last week, France became the first G7 nation to formally express its intention to recognize Palestinian statehood. Other countries reportedly considering similar moves include Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and Portugal.
As the conflict endures and global diplomatic alignments evolve, the prospect of Palestinian statehood is once again emerging as a key flashpoint in the shifting balance of Middle East policy.
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