Following the UK, Canada, and Australia’s declaration of recognition for a Palestinian state, the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement of condemnation. Israel asserted that this declaration undermines regional security and contradicts its objectives.
The statement read: “Israel categorically rejects the unilateral declaration by the United Kingdom and other nations recognizing a Palestinian state. This declaration does not foster peace; instead, it further destabilizes the region and diminishes prospects for a peaceful resolution. Called by Hamas leaders ‘the fruits of the October 7 massacre’, this declaration not only rewards the largest massacre of Jews since the Holocaust by a terror organization that is actively seeking the annihilation of Israel, but it also strengthens Hamas’s support.”
It added: “It is detrimental to separate statehood – one of the final status issues – from peace. This move contradicts all logic of negotiation and compromise, thereby pushing the desired peace further away. Furthermore, the Palestinian Authority has not met its obligations, ceasing neither incitement nor the ‘pay-for-slay’ policy, nor has it taken the necessary measures to combat terrorism – as demonstrated recently with the discovery of rockets and missiles near Ramallah last week.”
The Israeli ministry indicated that the Palestinian Authority is part of the problem, leading to the imposition of sanctions by the US. “The Palestinian Authority is part of the problem and not part of the solution. This is also the reason why the United States imposed sanctions on the Palestinian Authority and prevented its senior officials from entering its territory.”
The statement also affirmed that Israel will not accept this decision and suggested that European nations should pressure Hamas to release hostages. “In any case, Israel will not accept any detached and imaginary text that attempts to force it to accept indefensible borders. Political gestures aimed at a domestic voting audience only harm the Middle East and are not helpful. Instead, if the countries that signed this declaration truly wish to stabilize the region, they should focus on pressuring Hamas to release the hostages and to disarm immediately,” it concluded.