Starmer ‘listening to hostages’ but intends to stick to Palestine statehood plan

<p>Freed British-Israeli accuses PM of ‘moral failure’ over move to recognise Palestine at UN unless Israel changes course</p><p>Keir Starmer has said he is listening to hostages taken by Hamas but still intends to recognise a Palestinian state unless Israel commits to a ceasefire and <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/jul/30/advocates-of-a-two-state-solution-realise-time-to-act-is-now">two-state solution</a>.</p><p>The prime minister said he had spoken to the freed British-Israeli Emily Damari, held hostage by Hamas for 471 days, after she <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/jul/30/freed-british-israeli-hostage-accuses-keir-starmer-moral-failure-recognise-palestine">accused him of “moral failure”</a> over the move to recognise Palestine as a state in September at the United Nations.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/jul/31/starmer-says-he-is-listening-to-hostages-but-sticking-to-palestine-statehood-plan">Continue reading...</a>