Keir Starmer is rewarding Hamas with his pledge to recognise the state of Palestine, Nigel Farage has said on GB News.
The Reform UK leader said the Prime Minister is concerned about “darker forces” potentially costing him a hefty number of votes.
The Prime Minister fears a two-state solution to the conflict in the Middle East “feels further away today than it has for many, many years”.
He issued an ultimatum to the Israeli government in a bid to end the “appalling” humanitarian situation in Gaza.
GB NEWS / PA
|Nigel Farage lashed out at Keir Starmer
The UK would refrain from recognising a Palestinian state if Israel allows more aid into Gaza, stops annexing land in the West Bank, agrees to a ceasefire and signs up to a long-term peace process over the next two months.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Starmer is rewarding “Hamas’s monstrous terrorism”, a sentiment echoed by Farage.
“There are a growing number – the last number I know, 133 Labour MPs - demanding that the Prime Minister recognises the state of Palestine”, he said.
“But of course, as far as Starmer is concerned, electorally, perhaps slightly darker forces with Corbyn and others on the left.
PA | Sir Keir Starmer addresses the nation about recognising Palestine
“So we, as a country, won’t recognise the state of Palestine, provided Israel agrees to a ceasefire and ends the appalling situation in Gaza, which is pretty subjective, and as long as Israel commits to a long term sustainable peace.
“But there's no demand on the Palestinians at all. Absolutely zero. Do the Palestinians have to recognise the legitimacy of the State of Israel and promise to exist peacefully in coexistence? No.
“My view, for what it's worth, I think this is actually rewarding Hamas in so many ways. And have we all forgotten? I think we have, you know, the barbarities that took place on the 7th October?
“And I think there'll be many, many British Jews tonight, very, very upset by what the Prime Minister has done.”
In his address, Starmer insisted that Hamas must immediately release all remaining Israeli hostages, sign up to a ceasefire, disarm and “accept that they will play no part in the government of Gaza”.
He said the Government’s “primary aim” was getting aid into Gaza and getting hostages released when asked why recognition was conditional.
He added: “This is intended to further that course, and it is done now because I am particularly concerned that the very idea of a two-state solution is reducing and feels further away today than it has for many, many years and, therefore, it should be seen in both of those contexts.”
The Prime Minister discussed a UK-led international plan to alleviate the crisis in Gaza with Donald Trump on Monday, when the US president acknowledged there was “real starvation” in the territory.