CAPTIVITY SURVIVORS AND FAMILIES OUTRAGED – Britain’s Palestinian recognition move sparks outrage
Survivors of the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel who were taken hostage in Gaza voiced their anger following Britain’s decision to recognise the state of Palestine.
Britain announced it was prepared to recognise a Palestinian state at the United Nations General Assembly in September unless Israel took steps to improve the situation in Gaza and bring about peace.
Israeli hostage, Luis Har, rescued after 129 days in captivity during a special military operation, told Reuters he worried about the remaining hostages, adding that statehood will not help Palestinians as long as Hamas remains in control. Har said he believes that the world does not care about what happened on October 7th and focuses solely on the suffering of the Palestinians.
Emily Damari, a former hostage and a dual Israeli-British citizen, took to social media, directly criticising British Prime Minister Keir Starmer. She warned that recognising Palestinian statehood while the war continues sends a dangerous message to extremists and risks rewarding terror.
The Gaza war began when Hamas launched a surprise attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, killing nearly 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and taking 251 others hostage in the enclave.
Hostage families take to the streets on a weekly basis, demanding the return of their relatives. The families are joined by former hostages calling for the return of their brothers held in Gaza.
