UK to sanction Hamas in bid to blunt US opposition to Palestine recognition

Prime Minister Keir Starmer is expected to formally recognize unilateral Palestinian statehood on Sunday – but also lay out sanctions against Hamas in an attempt to placate the US and avoid a backlash.

By World Israel News Staff

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Sunday will formally announce that his government has decided to both recognize unilateral Palestinian statehood and to impose new sanctions on the Hamas terror organization, British media outlets reported over the weekend.

Starmer is widely expected to use Sunday’s address to officially back the Palestinian Authority’s unilateral claim of statehood.

Britain reportedly delayed the announcement until after the departure of President Donald Trump, who concluded his state visit last Thursday.

The Trump administration has strongly opposed the initiative, pushed by French President Emmanuel Macron, to recognize unilateral Palestinian claims to statehood this week.

Deputy premier David Lammy, who until recently served as foreign secretary, hinted at Starmer’s announcement during an interview with the BBC on Sunday.

“Now is the time to stand up for a two-state solution,” Lammy said. “Will this feed children? No, it won’t, that’s down to humanitarian aid. Will this free hostages? That must be down to a ceasefire.”

“What do we say to the children of a future Palestinian state? Do we say we have to wait for the perfect conditions before we can recognize a Palestinian state?”

According to a report by The Telegraph, Starmer is hoping to blunt American criticism of the move, placating the Trump administration and the Republican-controlled Congress with new sanctions against Hamas.

The report claimed that Starmer will use Sunday’s address to criticize the Israeli government and the IDF’s conduct in Gaza, while also condemning the Hamas terror organization.

No details were provided regarding the planned sanctions for Hamas.

Former Home Secretary Priti Patel, now Shadow Foreign Secretary, blasted Starmer’s plans to recognize unilateral Palestinian statehood, and mocked the use of sanctions to “appease” the US.

“With the terrorist organization Hamas still holding hostages in barbaric conditions and glorifying acts of terror, Starmer is sending a dangerous message, where violence and extremism are tolerated and rewarded,” Patel said.

“Peace in the Middle East will never be secured by rewarding terrorists. His feeble last-minute attempts to appease the United States are shallow and will never justify his reckless decision on recognition.”

Reform Party chairman Nigel Farage excoriated Starmer over his expected recognition of Palestinian statehood.

“Hamas and a Palestinian state are inseparable for now. This is typical of Starmer, he can’t really decide where he stands. Whatever the caveats in his statement, this announcement is a surrender to terrorism and a betrayal of Israel.”