Hostage forum slams UK, others for pushing Palestinian statehood

Families say recognition rewards Hamas, violates international law.

By David Brummer, World Israel News

The Hostages and Missing Families Forum blasted the UK and other European countries on Wednesday for recognizing or threatening to recognize a Palestinian state while Israeli hostages remain captive in Gaza.

“Recognizing a Palestinian state while 50 hostages are still trapped in Hamas tunnels amounts to rewarding terrorism,” said the group in a sharp statement.

They called such moves a “dangerous moral and political failure.”

The forum, which represents families of hostages taken by Hamas on October 7, warned that recognition “legitimizes horrific war crimes.”

The group said any recognition of Palestinian statehood before the hostages are freed “cannot and should not serve as the foundation for establishing a state.”

“If the international community truly desires peace, it must join U.S. efforts by demanding first the release of all hostages, followed by an end to the fighting,” they urged.

They said recognizing Palestine now would “be remembered throughout history as validating terrorism as a legitimate pathway to political goals.”

The statement came after British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the UK would recognize Palestine as soon as September if Israel does not take concrete steps toward peace.

France had made a similar declaration days earlier—without conditions—prompting Malta to follow suit.

Norway, Spain, Ireland, and Slovenia have already formally recognized a Palestinian state.

Starmer’s move triggered outrage in Jerusalem and drew criticism from U.S. President Donald Trump, who said Hamas “should not be rewarded.”

Emily Damari, a former Hamas hostage and dual UK-Israeli citizen, also took to X to criticize the Starmer government’s stance.

“By legitimising a state entity while Hamas still controls Gaza and continues its campaign of terror, you are not promoting a solution; you are prolonging the conflict,” she wrote.

“Recognition under these conditions emboldens extremists and undermines any hope for genuine peace. Shame on you.”

The UK government pushed back on Netanyahu’s criticism.

“This is not a reward for Hamas,” said British Transport Minister Heidi Alexander in interviews on Wednesday. “Hamas is a vile terrorist organization that has committed appalling atrocities. This is about the Palestinian people.”

She said Britain was acting out of concern for starving children in Gaza and to pressure Israel to allow more humanitarian aid into the enclave.