HAMAS terrorists have declared victory for “the justice of our cause” after Britain recognised the State of Palestine yesterday.
Sir announced the UK’s decision in a video message on Sunday “to keep alive the possibility of peace and a two-state solution”.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer issues a statement confirming the UK will recognise a Palestinian state
A senior Hamas figure declared that recognition of Palestine is a ‘victory for Palestinian rights and the justice of our cause’
Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has blasted the UK’s decision to recognise a Palestinian state
The major foreign policy shift made Britain one of more than 150 states to now recognise .
, and joined the UK in this move, while is expected to follow suit imminently.
Sir Keir called it a “pledge to the Palestinian and Israeli people that there can be a better future“.
It comes after nearly two years of war following the atrocities of October 7, 2023 in which Hamas terrorists killed around 1,200 people and took hundreds hostage.
Senior Hamas figure Mahmoud Mardaw declared that this recognition of Palestine is a “victory for Palestinian rights and the justice of our cause”.
He added that it would send a “clear message” to .
Israel’s conduct in the war has come under mounting criticism over the past year with the humanitarian in Gaza becoming increasingly dire.
A commission determined last week that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza.
The Israeli government fiercely denies this charge.
Prime Minister has blasted the UK’s decision to recognise a Palestinian state as “simply a reward for “.
He said: “I have a clear message to those leaders who recognise a Palestinian state after the terrible massacre of October 7.
“You are giving a huge reward to terrorism.
“And I have another message for you. It will not happen. There will not be a Palestinian state west of the Jordan.”
has echoed Netanyahu’s remarks on the ongoing pushes by several world leaders to recognise Palestine.
What does recognising Palestine mean?
BRITAIN'S recognition means that the UK government diplomatically acknowledges Palestine as a country.
The UK had already vowed to recognise a Palestinian state as part of a broader peace process with Israel, but it was long unclear when this might happen.
It does not mean that the UK no longer recognises Israel, with which Britain has had official diplomatic relations since the 1950s.
But Palestine now joins the list of nations formally recognised by Britain, meaning its chief envoy will now have the rank of ambassador.
The conflict between Israel and Palestine stretches back many decades, and it is still unclear what the borders of a Palestinian state would look like.
The West Bank, the Gaza Strip and East Jerusalem are frequently described as occupied Palestinian territories.
But Israel de facto controls much of this land, and has built substantial settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem.
Control of Palestinian territory is divided, with Hamas solely ruling over the Gaza Strip.
On Sunday night, he also voiced the view that such a move is “rewarding Hamas”.
He added: “I don’t think they should be rewarded. I am not in that camp, to be honest.”
Sir Keir pledged in July to recognise a Palestinian state this month unless Israel agreed to a ceasefire and committed to a long-term peace process.
The Prime Minister insisted that Britain’s recognition of Palestine “is not a reward for Hamas”.
He described Hamas as a “brutal terror” group and said they could have “no future” in the governance of Gaza.
Sir Keir said: “We recognised the State of Israel more than 75 years ago as a homeland for the Jewish people.
“Today we join over 150 countries who recognise a Palestinian state also.
“A pledge to the Palestinian and Israeli people that there can be a better future.”
The Board of Deputies of British Jews has also criticised the move, saying there would be “deep dismay at the Prime Minister’s announcement across the Jewish community”.
Hamas fighters secure an area before handing over three Israeli hostages to a Red Cross team in Deir el-Balah
Netanyahu called recognition of Palestine a ‘huge reward to terrorism’
Hamas fighters are deployed in central Gaza City 
