Netanyahu Criticizes Starmer's Palestine Recognition Amid Gaza Conflict

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu fiercely criticized world leaders, including UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, for recognizing a Palestinian state, labeling it as endorsing a "terror state" and warning it would encourage terrorism against Jews and other innocent people. Netanyahu asserted that Israel must "finish the job" against Hamas in Gaza and condemned leaders for not condemning Hamas's atrocities, emphasizing that Israel will not permit what he called national suicide. Meanwhile, senior Hamas officials, including Ghazi Hamad, unapologetically praised the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel, describing it as a "golden moment" that exposed Israeli brutality and advanced the Palestinian cause, viewing international recognition of Palestine as a political reward for their actions. Several Western nations, including the UK, Canada, France, Australia, Portugal, and Belgium, have recognized Palestinian statehood despite opposition from Israel and the United States, who warn this may embolden Hamas and other radical elements. Starmer defended his decision as an effort to keep alive the possibility of peace and a two-state solution, distancing it from Hamas's violent agenda, though he also criticized Israeli settlement expansion and the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. The situation has sparked sharp divisions at the UN, with numerous delegates walking out during Netanyahu's speech, highlighting the deep international tensions surrounding the Israel-Palestine conflict and recent diplomatic moves.