UK Opposition Leader Slams Starmer For Palestine Recognition: ‘You’re Rewarding Terrorism’

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NEW YORK (VINnews) — British prime minister Keir Starmer and opposition leader Kemi Badenoch traded barbs over the peace agreement between Hamas and Israel, with Starmer claiming that his recognition of Palestine had helped secure the agreement while Badenoch said that this move was a reward to terror, had strained UK-Israel relations and in no way contributed to Hamas’s agreement to release hostages, which was due both to Israeli military pressure and Trump’s diplomatic initiative.

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President Trump’s Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff said the UK played a vital role “in assisting and coordinating efforts that have led us to this historic day,” particularly  citing the “tireless efforts” of the UK’s National Security Adviser Jonathan Powell.

Starmer told Commons that he was “proud” of Witkoff’s acknowledgment of Britain’s role: “He knows absolutely the role we played, and this house should be proud that we played that role.”

However US ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee called the UK “delusional” for claiming to have played a vital role in the Gaza deal, and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the UK’s recognition of Palestine delayed the Gaza ceasefire by up to two months.

Shadow Foreign Secretary Priti Patel concurred, telling the BBC: “I think we have to be honest about the fact that Britain has had no role, no role whatsoever.”

Sharren Haskel, Israel’s deputy foreign minister, told Sky News: “The declaration of the Palestinian state during a very sensitive time two months ago, when the teams were already around the table negotiating, when we truly believed we were able to reach a deal, the message that the UK government sent Hamas was the message that the longer they continue this war, [the more] they will be rewarded.”

Badenoch slammed Starmer’s self-congratulation, saying she was “surprised” to hear the prime minister say in his statement that Palestinian state recognition was a contribution to this peace deal.

“We all know that the US Secretary of State Marco Rubio condemned this recognition, saying it had made ceasefire negotiations harder,” she added. “The truth is, as historic events have unfolded in the Middle East, Britain has been out of step with the US.”
Badenoch recalled how the UK’s decision to recognize a Palestinian state was praised by Hamas and condemned how it was not conditional on the release of the hostages still held in the tunnels of Gaza, something she said “rewarded terrorism.”
She told the Commons that while “there is much to be hopeful for in the Middle East if the Abraham Accords are expanded, [and if there is] diplomatic normalization of Israel with the Arab world, it saddens me that the prime minister’s statement does not appear to show that the UK was at the heart of any of these efforts specifically.”
“It is quite clear that UK relations with Israel have been strained by the actions of this government,” Badenoch added.

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Phil A Delfia
Phil A Delfia
3 hours ago

Starmer must be a disciple of Neville Chamberlain.

XYZ
XYZ
2 hours ago

In 2022/23 the Brits allowed approximately 2.5 million “migrants” to flood their country, they’re now paying the price for opening their borders and allowing these savages in

nosiree
nosiree
1 hour ago

She is a bright star in Lodonistan. PM is absolutely rubbish.

Sam
Sam
31 minutes ago

Kemi Badenoch should hopefully become the next PM. She clearly speaks truth. I don’t know her stances on other issues but she’s right on this one. It’s also an act of bravery in the current Islamic Europe.