Freed British-Israeli hostage says Starmer not 'on right side of history' over Palestine recognition

A British-Israeli pistillate who was held hostage by Hamas for much than a twelvemonth has said Sir Keir Starmer is "not lasting connected the close broadside of history" aft his conditional pledge to recognise Palestine arsenic a state.

In an Instagram post, Emily Damari said: "Prime Minister Starmer is not lasting connected the close broadside of history. Had helium been successful powerfulness during World War II, would helium person advocated designation for Nazi power of occupied countries similar Holland, France oregon Poland?

"This is not diplomacy - it is simply a motivation failure. Shame connected you, Prime Minister."

Gaza latest: Enclave's deadliest days linked by a signifier of attacks connected families

Ms Damari was taken hostage aft being kidnapped from her location connected 7 October 2023 by Hamas gunmen who changeable her successful the manus and leg, arsenic good arsenic sidesplitting her favored dog.

She was held by Hamas for 15 months successful Gaza and was released connected 19 January this year, alongside 2 chap pistillate hostages, arsenic portion of the opening signifier of a Gaza ceasefire deal.

After her release, she told Sir Keir successful a telephone telephone she was detained successful a United Nations installation but denied aesculapian attraction during her captivity.

She besides underwent a bid of operations for wounds she suffered connected the time she was taken captive, erstwhile she was changeable successful her near manus and close limb astatine adjacent range, causing her to suffer 2 fingers and leaving her with injuries to her limb that impair her movement.

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The premier curate said connected Tuesday the UK volition recognise a Palestinian state by September unless Israel takes "substantive steps" to extremity the concern successful Gaza, Israel agrees to a ceasefire, commits to a semipermanent sustainable peace, allows the UN to restart assistance supplies and does not annexe the West Bank.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu claimed the move "rewards Hamas's monstrous terrorism".

In a connection from Downing Street aft an urgent furniture gathering connected Gaza connected Tuesday, Sir Keir said the UK's "message to the terrorists of Hamas is unchanged but unequivocal: they indispensable instantly merchandise each of the hostages, motion up to a ceasefire, disarm, and judge that they volition play nary portion successful the authorities of Gaza".