'Misdirected by the misinformation' - Reactions to British PM Keir Starmer’s statement on recognizing Palestinian state in September

Following Thursday’s announcement by French President Emmanuel Macron vowing to recognize a Palestinian state this September, the Hamas terrorist organization released a statement welcoming the decision and urging other countries to follow suit. 

It appears the United Kingdom has responded to the call. Last night British Prime Minister Keir Starmer joined France in setting September as a deadline for Israel to meet his conditions, warning that failure to do so would automatically lead to the recognition of a Palestinian state.

“Today as part of this process towards peace, I can confirm the UK will recognize 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, agree to a ceasefire and commit to a long term sustainable peace reviving the prospect of a two state solution. And this includes allowing the UN to restart the supply of aid and making clear that there will be no annexations in the West bank,” Starmer said.

The onus and responsibility was placed firmly on Israel to act or face the consequences. Starmer also addressed Hamas, saying, “Our message to the terrace of Hamas is unchanged and unequivocal. They must immediately release all of the hostages, sign up to a ceasefire, disarm, and accept that they will play no part in the government of Gaza.” 

He said the British government would “make an assessment in September on how far the parties have met these steps,” adding that “no one should have a veto over our decision.”

Hamas described the announcement of a Palestinian state from France as a “positive step in the right direction toward justice for our oppressed Palestinian people and toward support for their right to establish their own state,” and that it “reflects the growing international conviction of the justice of the Palestinian cause and the failure of the occupation to distort the facts,” others are less enamored.

“It’s like Roosevelt saying to Churchill in 1940: “Make peace with the Nazis or I’ll recognise the Greater German Reich”,” wrote Colonel Richard Kemp on 𝕏, adding: “I suspect Churchill’s response would be a more eloquent version of Gen McCauliffe’s response to the Nazi demand for his surrender at Bastogne: “Nuts!””

He also asked, “Does Starmer envisage a democratic “State of Palestine”? If so it will be run by Hamas, the most popular political entity among Palestinian Arabs. Or will it be run without elections by Abbas, the PA dictator, now in the 19th year of his 4 year term?”

International law expert, Natasha Hausdorff of UK Lawyers for Israel, warned that the speed at which Hamas welcomed the decision as a positive step “should give Starmer and the Labour Party pause for thought.” She warned, “It simply serves to encourage Hamas and other terrorist groups, and encourage intransigence.” 

In an interview with journalist Ian Collins, Hausdorff said, “We've seen the impact on Hamas walking away from the negotiation table and the American proposed hostage release and ceasefire proposals and we have seen the elongation, the prolongation of this conflict as a result of this very dangerous and unfounded rhetoric.”

“It seems to me that they have been very badly misled, very badly misled indeed, both by the international media coverage over the last 24 months, but also by the rewriting of history,” she continued.

“Many of these people seem to think that there was once a Palestine which was taken away from people, and that this land has been occupied by Israel. And that is simply incorrect, both on the historical and the legal analysis.”

Hausdorff pointed to the devastating consequences of electing Hamas in Gaza and how the terror group has threatened to takeover of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) in the West Bank as well. She expressed concern that politicians have been “thoroughly misdirected by the misinformation” such the “misnomer of the 1967 borders” which are in actuality an armistice line rather than established sovereign borders.

“They may be well intentioned, but they are doing a great deal of damage, including to the Palestinian civilians that they purport to support,” Hausdorff concluded.

Angry and incredulous reactions to Starmer’s statement flooded his post, with many decrying the apparent reward for the terror group and pressure on Israel rather than Hamas.

“If Hamas lays down their weapons and their leaders take safe passage out of Gaza, then the possibility of a ceasefire and a new beginning for the West Bank and Gaza exists,” U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) posted on 𝕏. “Anything short of Hamas disarming and leaving would be unacceptable.”

Others, such as International Relations scholar Emmanuel Navon of Tel Aviv University, highlighted the ongoing hostage crisis, querying Starmer’s logic: “Unless Israel capitulates to Hamas, which blocks a ceasefire by refusing to free hostages, the UK shall reward Hamas for October 7 by recognising a 22nd Arab state whose only purpose is to implement the PLO’s “phased plan” of 1974.”

Others have opined that Starmer’s statement was aimed at appeasing British Muslims and vocal pro-Gaza supporters, though others argue the move may be futile, as he may have already lost favor with that segment of the electorate.

A reaction from the Conservative Party described it as “political posturing at its very worst” while Jeremy Corbyn on the other extreme objected to the use of statehood being used as a “bargaining chip” according to the Telegraph. A poll of readers the day after the statement indicated that of 44,147 who responded, 85% opposed formal British recognition of Palestine.

Tom Slater, editor of Spiked, described the move as “an absurdity” designed to deal with problems with the troubled voter coalitions of both Macron and Starmer. In the last election, Labour lost several seats to independent candidates running on a Gaza ticket.

Former hostage, Emily Damari also expressed her grave concern, saying, “As a Dual British-Israeli citizen who survived 471 days in Hamas captivity, I am deeply saddened by Prime Minister Starmer's decision to recognise Palestinian statehood. This move does not confirm the UK will advance peace - it risks rewarding terror. It sends a dangerous message: that violence earns legitimacy.”

She continued, “By legitimising a state entity while Hamas still controls Gaza and continues its campaign of terror, the Prime Minister is not promoting a solution; he is prolonging the conflict. Recognition under these conditions emboldens extremists and undermines any hope for genuine peace.”

“We are letting the politics of Hamas, because that’s what it is, rule our foreign policy and that is not a good thing,” Talk TV host Julia Hartley-Brewer surmised.