Keir Starmer's Palestine move savaged by British Hamas hostage - 'like rewarding Nazis'

Keir Starmer has been condemned by a British Hamas hostage who was held captive for more than a year, after the Prime Minister announced plans to formally recognise Palestine. The Prime Minister announced yesterday that the British Government would follow France's lead in recognising a Palestinian State by September, unless Israel ends the "appalling situation" in Gaza and commits to a long-term peace process that would deliver a Palestinian state with its co-operation.

Speaking to the Cabinet on Tuesday, the Prime Minister 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". Sir Keir said the move was designed to create "a long-term peaceful outcome". While's he's been condemned across the political spectrum, the intervention of a former British hostage is the most damning intervention yet.

Emily Damari, a dual British-Israeli citizen kidnapped by Hamas on October 7, has said the announcement is akin to "rewarding the Nazis" after World War Two.

In a furious statement this morning, Ms Damari said Sir Keir is "not standing on the right side of history".

"Prime Minister Starmer is not standing on the right side of history. Had he been in power during World War II, would he have advocated recognition for Nazi control of occupied countries like Holland, France or Poland?

"This is not diplomacy - it is a moral failure. Shame on you, Prime Minister.

"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 advance peace -it risks rewarding terror. It sends a dangerous message: that violence earns legitimacy.

"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. Shame on you.!!!"

Her condemnation has been echoed by the official Israeli state, as well as America, the Tories and Reform UK.

Last night Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Sir Keir's move "rewards Hamas's monstrous terrorism".

Taking to X the war leader fumed: "Starmer rewards Hamas's monstrous terrorism and punishes its victims. A jihadist state on Israel's border today will threaten Britain tomorrow. Appeasement towards jihadist terrorists always fails. It will fail you, too. It will not happen."

The Campaign Against Antisemitism branded the announcement "morally indefensible" while around 50 Israeli hostages remain in captivity in Gaza, while Nigel Farage demanded to know: "Have we forgotten the barbarities that took place on October 7th?!"

The Jewish Leadership Council of Britain added: "Unilateral recognition will not bring into existence a Palestinian state or peace for the people of the region. This is a position that the government has stated itself in recent weeks.

"Today's reversal, with a supposedly conditioned announcement, is a transparent attempt to sacrifice this fact in the hope of reducing domestic political pressure. The announcement has failed to make clear that the release of the hostages and end of Hamas rule is a condition of recognition. Unless this is made clear, recognition can only be seen as a reward from the UK for terrorism."

The news was also slammed by the hard-left, with Jeremy Corbyn arguing Palestinian statehood "is not a bargaining chip. It is not a threat. It is an inalienable right of the Palestinian people. Our demands on this shameful Government remain the same - end all arms sales to Israel, impose widespread sanctions, and stop the genocide now."