Distraught families of Hamas‘ victims have condemned Sir Keir Starmer for recognising a Palestinian state while nearly 50 hostages remain in Gaza.
Relatives of those killed and captured by the terror group told the PM he has ‘sent a signal’ that ‘mass murder will be excused’ or ‘even rewarded’.
Sir Keir announced the dramatic change in British policy less than two years after the terror group slaughtered 1,200 and kidnapped 251 on October 7, 2023 in the largest massacre of Jews since the Holocaust.
Hamas continues to gleefully broadcast images of emaciated hostages it still holds in terror tunnels and has repeatedly taunted loved ones with videos of their tortured faces.
The extremists refuse to surrender after sparking a war that has left tens of thousands dead and still hold 49 hostages – of which 20 are believed to be alive.
Yet on Sunday Sir Keir announced that Britain will recognise a Palestinian state despite Hamas themselves boasting that such a move is ‘one of the fruits of October 7’.
Ian Brisley, 57, from Bristol, said the move was ‘an insult to the memory’ of his relatives who were killed and tortured by Hamas.
He lost his sister Lianne Sharabi, 48, and nieces Noiya, 16, and Yahel, 13, on October 7. Lianne’s husband Eli, 52, was held by Hamas for 500 days while the terror group still holds the body of his brother Yossi, 52.
British-born Mandy Damari (right), whose daughter Emily (left) was held by Hamas for 471 days, said Sir Keir Starmer is ‘rewarding’ the terror group for October 7
Ilay David (above) whose brother Evyatar (seen in the picture) is still being held by Hamas, said ‘the UK has chosen to hand Hamas and its accomplices the greatest prize’
‘Keir Starmer’s decision to recognise a Palestinian state is nothing less than rewarding terrorism,’ he said.
‘It frees no hostages. It eases no suffering in Gaza. What it does is send a signal: mass murder will be excused — even rewarded.
‘For me, this is not abstract. I am not Jewish, not Israeli — just one of thousands of victims from that day.
‘How can you speak of a two-state solution when one side openly declares it will repeat October 7th again and again, if given the chance?
‘And if Britain is ready to recognise a state built on such terror, where does it stop? Houthinam? Hezbollahland? Al-Quidistan? ISIS Province? Even a general Jihadistan? Recognition should never be granted to those who glorify murder.’
British-born Mandy Damari, 63, met Sir Keir countless times in her campaign to free her daughter Emily who was held by Hamas for 471 days.
The 29-year-old had two fingers shot off, was held in cages underground and had to hide the fact she was gay from the homophobic terror group that was voted into power in Gaza in 2005.
Yet while Sir Keir gave Israel an ultimatum, saying he would recognise a Palestinian state if they did not take steps to end the war, he put no pressure on Hamas to end the war or set any conditions to reward them with a state.
Mandy said: ‘Keir Starmer is under a two-state delusion.
‘While one of the states is still run by a proscribed terrorist organisation whose very charter is to annihilate Israel from the river to the sea, a two-state solution can never happen.
Sir Keir Starmer (above) announced that Britain will recognise a Palestinian state despite Hamas themselves boasting that such a move is ‘one of the fruits of October 7’
‘But even if he thinks he is right, he is rewarding Hamas for the October 7 barbaric and savage attack on Israel when the hostages are still not back, the war is not over and Hamas are still in power in Gaza.’
Hamas released cruel images of them forcing emaciated Evyatar David, 24, to dig his own grave in a tunnel in Gaza after they intentionally starved him. He is still held there today.
His brother Ilay David, 28, said: ‘Any form of recognition from nations like the UK is a bad idea. The timing is wrong.
‘We have to say, ‘Until the hostages are home and Hamas de-weaponises we cannot recognise anything’. It is the wrong move right now.’
A defining image of October 7 was that of Noa Argamani, 26, being kidnapped into Gaza on a motorbike as she screamed out to her boyfriend, Avinantan Or, 32.
While she was freed in a rescue mission, Avinatan remains in captivity. His British-Israeli mother Ditza Or said: ‘Mr Starmer, we expect the Prime Minister of England to remain true to timeless values, not short-term self-interests.
‘With eternity, we fight against evil and cruelty, on our way to illuminate the world. You have the opportunity to be a partner to the light, or to join the evil.
‘The world is watching you, what will you choose?’
As Israel started its ground incursion into Gaza City last week Hamas brought living hostages up from the tunnels to use as human shields.
Moshe Emilio Lavi, who brother-in-law Omri Mirans, 48, is still held in Gaza, said: ‘We need more than words now.
‘Irrespective of the Israeli government’s policies, while our loved ones are being purposely starved, tortured, and used as human shields, the UK has chosen to hand Hamas and its accomplices the greatest prize – an unconditional recognition of statehood.’
