Freed British-Israeli hostage says Starmer ‘risks rewarding terror’

Lucy ManningSpecial correspondentReutersEmily Damari, pictured hugging her mom, was launched in January after being held hostage by Hamas for 471 daysA British-Israeli lady held hostage by Hamas has mentioned Sir Keir Starmer is “not standing on the best facet of historical past” together with his pledge to recognise a Palestinian state.Emily Damari, who was launched in January after being held by Hamas for greater than 15 months, mentioned the UK prime minister “dangers rewarding terror”.Sir Keir introduced on Tuesday that the UK would recognise a Palestinian state in September except Israel met sure situations, together with agreeing a ceasefire and reviving the prospect of a two-state resolution.Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu mentioned the UK’s stance rewarded “Hamas’s monstrous terrorism”.The UK is amongst a rising variety of international locations to voice considerations over situations in Gaza, the place UN-backed specialists have mentioned a famine situation is presently taking part in out.In a information convention held after an emergency cupboard assembly on Tuesday, Sir Keir mentioned he was asserting the plan due to the “insupportable state of affairs” in Gaza and concern that “the very risk of a two-state resolution is decreasing”.He mentioned that his “main intention” was to enhance the state of affairs on the bottom in Gaza however he additionally mentioned Hamas should instantly launch all hostages, signal as much as a ceasefire, disarm and settle for that they may play no half within the authorities of Gaza.Ms Damari, whose mom Mandy is initially from south London, was shot within the leg and hand when she was dragged from her dwelling on Kibbutz Kfar Aza on 7 October 2023. Hamas additionally shot and killed her canine.She was taken from the protected room of her home together with her mates Ziv and Gali Berman.The 27-year-old twins are nonetheless being held by Hamas and Ms Damari mentioned she is doing all she will be able to to get them and the opposite 50 hostages – not all of them alive – again to their households in Israel.In a submit on social media, she wrote: “Prime Minister Starmer will not be standing on the best facet of historical past. Had he been in energy throughout World Battle II, would he have advocated recognition for Nazi management of occupied international locations like Holland, France or Poland?”She later posted: “This transfer doesn’t advance peace – it dangers rewarding terror. It sends a harmful message: that violence earns legitimacy. By legitimising a state entity whereas Hamas nonetheless controls Gaza and continues its marketing campaign of terror, the prime minister will not be selling an answer; he’s prolonging the battle.”Recognition beneath these situations emboldens extremists and undermines any hope for real peace. Disgrace on you!”Her submit adopted an announcement from attorneys representing British households with relations who have been, or are, nonetheless hostages, expressing their considerations in regards to the prime minister’s assertion.They mentioned: “We’re involved that the UK’s proposal dangers delaying the discharge of the hostages.”It’s because the UK has mentioned that it’s going to recognise a Palestinian state except Israel agrees a ceasefire. However the danger is that Hamas will proceed to refuse a ceasefire as a result of if it agrees to 1 this is able to make UK recognition much less seemingly.”The households are due to this fact deeply involved that the UK’s method dangers disincentivising Hamas from releasing the hostages. This dangers doing precisely what the prime minister’s assertion says the UK won’t do: reward Hamas for its heinous and unlawful acts.”The British hostage households take no place on the broader politics. Their concern is to deliver their family members dwelling, and time is quick operating out.”They due to this fact implore the prime minister to supply readability and make sure, unambiguously, that Hamas won’t be rewarded and that the UK won’t take any substantive steps till all of the hostages are free.”ReutersEli Sharabi held {a photograph} of his spouse and two daughters, who have been killed by Hamas, as he addressed a gathering of the UN Safety Council in MarchSteve Brisley’s British-Israeli sister and nieces, Lianne, Noiya and Yahel Sharabi have been murdered on 7 October.His brother-in-law Eli Sharabi was launched as a hostage earlier this 12 months, trying emaciated and weak. Eli’s brother’s physique remains to be being held hostage by Hamas.Talking from Wales, Mr Brisley informed the BBC he was “upset” with the prime minister’s assertion and there must be no recognition of a Palestinian state except the hostages are launched.”My concern in regards to the assertion is it probably incentivizes Hamas to proceed to carry these hostages, simply ready till September, till a Palestinian state is recognised by the UK.”There’s a deadline for what is predicted of Israel, however no comparable deadline set for what is predicted from Hamas.”He added: “I believe we want readability that the discharge of the hostages will deliver this to an finish.”ReutersNoam Sagi, whose mom was held hostage, mentioned he thought Sir Keir’s announcement was a “enormous prize” for HamasNoam Sagi’s mom, Ada, was 75 when she was taken hostage by Hamas on 7 October. She was held for 53 days earlier than being launched.Mr Sagi, from north London, informed the BBC he thought Sir Keir’s announcement was “an oversight and an inside political resolution within the Labour Occasion”.”We’re in a really delicate state of affairs. Each day it is about getting the best stability to attain a ceasefire and the discharge of all of the hostages. There isn’t any ceasefire except all of the hostages are launched. That’s clear for everyone. “He added: “I believe he simply gave an enormous prize to Hamas.”In an announcement issued on Wednesday, a UK authorities spokesman mentioned: “Our calls for on Hamas haven’t modified. For there to be any likelihood of peace, the hostages have to be launched. Hamas should lay down its weapons, and decide to having no future function within the governance of Gaza.”He added: “We are going to make an evaluation forward of UNGA [United Nations General Assembly] on how far each Israel and Hamas have met the steps we set out. Nobody facet could have a veto on recognition by way of their actions or inactions.”Ali Jadallah/Anadolu through Getty ImagesThe UK’s overseas secretary mentioned the time had come “to abate the struggling of the Palestinian individuals”Israel imposed a complete blockade on support and industrial deliveries to Gaza initially of March and resumed its army offensive in opposition to Hamas two weeks later, collapsing a two-month ceasefire.It mentioned it wished to place stress on Hamas to launch its Israeli hostages.The blockade was partially eased after 11 weeks, after the Israeli authorities got here beneath stress from its allies, however the shortages of meals, medication and gas have worsened.Whereas an alert issued by the Built-in Meals Safety Part Classification (IPC) stopped wanting formally classifying Gaza as being in a famine, it mentioned the newest information indicated “that famine thresholds have been reached for meals consumption in a lot of the Gaza Strip and for acute malnutrition in Gaza Metropolis”.UN businesses blame the disaster on Israel, which controls the entry of all provides to the territory and the US and Israeli-backed support group (Gaza Humanitarian Basis, or GHF) which has distributed support since late Could.Overseas Secretary David Lammy mentioned the world had seen “probably the most horrific scenes” in Gaza and the time had come “to abate the struggling of the Palestinian individuals”.Talking on the UN in New York, he informed the BBC’s Tom Bateman that Tuesday’s announcement “places us on a pathway in the direction of recognition”.Sir Keir’s resolution got here amid rising calls from some MPs to recognise a Palestinian state.Shadow overseas secretary Priti Patel claimed the coverage was designed to placate Labour MPs.”Clearly it is simply an appeasement coverage and it is political for Keir Starmer’s back-benchers,” she mentioned. “He is aware of that guarantees to recognise Palestine proper now won’t safe a long-lasting peace.”