UK (Parliament Politics Magazine) – UK Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander appeared unclear on key terms related to Palestinian statehood recognition, dodging direct questions on hostages.
As reported by The Independent, Heidi Alexander struggled to define Britain’s conditions for recognising Palestine amid rising political backlash.
What did Heidi Alexander say about Hamas and hostages?
The transport secretary failed to clarify whether the release of hostages is a condition for recognising a Palestinian state.
She said ministers have “always said right from day one that the hostages need to be released”, with Britain expecting “Hamas to act in the same way as we expect Israel to act”.
During an interview on BBC, Ms Alexander stated,
“Hamas need to release the hostages, they need to disarm, and they also need to accept that they will have no future role in the governance of Gaza. They are a vile terrorist organisation that has perpetrated heinous crimes and awful atrocities on the Israeli people.”
When questioned about whether the release of hostages was a precondition for recognition, she said, “We will be making an assessment in September.”
She stated,
“We’re giving Israel eight weeks to act. If they want to be sat at the table to shape that enduring peace in the region, they must act.”
Pressed on the same issue in another interview, she added,
“This isn’t about Hamas, this is actually about delivering for the Palestinian people and making sure that we can get aid in.”
How did the UK plan to link statehood to conditions in Gaza?
The UK government is being criticised for using the idea of a Palestinian state for political purposes. Meanwhile, it’s still unclear if releasing hostages is required before giving official recognition.
Sir Keir Starmer confirmed that Britain will recognise a Palestinian state by September if Israel fails to take swift action to halt the war in Gaza.
Britain will delay recognising Palestine if Israel, within weeks, expands humanitarian access in Gaza and halts annexation in the West Bank. It also requires Israel to observe a ceasefire and commit to a sustained peace.
The Labour leader insists that Hamas must release all hostages, agree to a ceasefire, and accept that it will have no role in governing Gaza.
Keir Starmer’s views on Gaza and the two-state solution
Keir Starmer cited the worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza and fading hopes for a two-state solution as reasons the UK must act swiftly.
He said,
“Ultimately, the only way to bring this humanitarian crisis to an end is through a long-term settlement. Our goal remains a safe and secure Israel alongside a viable and sovereign Palestinian state, but right now, that goal is under pressure like never before.”
Mr Starmer added,
“I have always said that we will recognise a Palestinian state as a contribution to a proper peace process, at the moment of maximum impact for the two-state solution. With that solution now under threat, this is the moment to act. We’ll assess in September on how far the parties have met these steps, but no one should have a veto over our decision.”
What did Netanyahu and Israeli officials say about Starmer’s statement?
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accused Keir Starmer of rewarding “Hamas’s monstrous terrorism” in a statement.
He added,
“A jihadist state on Israel’s border today will threaten Britain tomorrow.”
Israel’s foreign ministry publicly rejected Starmer’s remarks, calling them a “reward for Hamas.”
It added,
“The shift in the British government’s position at this time, following the French move and internal political pressures, constitutes a reward for Hamas and harms efforts to achieve a ceasefire in Gaza and a framework for the release of hostages.”
What did Trump and US officials say about Palestine’s recognition?
During a meeting with Keir Starmer about aid for Gaza, Donald Trump said they didn’t talk about creating a Palestinian state. But he added that he had no objection to Starmer sharing his opinion on it.
US State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce condemned the UN conference on Palestinian statehood, calling it a “publicity stunt” and describing it as disrespectful to the victims of the October 7 attacks.
She warned that the UK’s move might be seen as a reward for Hamas.