Cooper claims Palestine recognition is ‘opposite of Hamas’ hateful vision’

Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper has claimed the UK’s decision to recognise Palestine is the “opposite of Hamas’ hateful vision” for Israel’s destruction.

In her speech to the United Nations on Monday night, as the community observed the start of Rosh Hashanah, she said: “The UK’s historic recognition of the state of Palestine this week is part of our commitment to peace. And that future must be based on a two-state solution.

“Part of acting to protect the viability of the two-state solution as the only path to a just and lasting peace and to security for Palestinians and Israelis alike.

“Part of rejecting extremist ideas on all sides, which involve too often fantasies of the destruction of the State of Israel or expulsion of the Palestinian population, we reject both of those.”

Speaking at a UN General Assembly meeting in New York on Monday, in which Emmanuel Macron, the French president, also officially recognised Palestinian statehood, Cooper said the decision to recognise Palestine was “born of urgency and principle”.

She said: “This step, alongside friends and partners, reflects a longstanding truth that statehood is the inalienable right of the Palestinian people, and that two states is the only path to security and lasting peace for Israelis and Palestinians alike.

“But it also reflects a grave reality: the two-state solution that for decades has commanded global support is in profound peril from continued bloodshed, man-made famine, terrorism and hostage-taking, settlement expansion and settler violence.”

Danny Danon, Israel’s UN ambassador, said it would discuss what action to take in response to the announcements of recognition after Mr Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister, returns from the UN to Israel next week.

But Cooper urged Israel not to retaliate with annexation, after the UK joined other countries, including Canada, Australia, Portugal, and France, in recognising a Palestinian state.

In his speech, Macron said: “The time has come to do justice to the Palestinian people and thus to recognise a state of Palestine,” and he warned that peace could no longer wait as “we are moments away from no longer being able to seize it”.

When US President Donald Trump addressed the UN on Tuesday, he made only a passing reference to the situation in Gaza in a lengthy, and often rambling, address.

“Now, as if to encourage continued conflict, some of this body is seeking to unilaterally recognize a Palestinian state,” Trump said. “The rewards would be too great for Hamas terrorists for their atrocities. This would be a reward for these horrible atrocities, including October 7, even while they refuse to release the hostages or accept a ceasefire.”

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer avoided the UN meeting, having delivered confirmation of UK recognition of Palestine via a recorded video message on Sunday.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, also delivered a speech via video link to the UN during the International Conference for Peaceful Settlement of the Question of Palestine and Implementation of the Two-State Solution conference.

“The State of Palestine is the only legitimate authority qualified to assume full responsibility for governance and security in Gaza, through a temporary administrative committee linked to the Palestinian government in the West Bank, with Arab and international support,” said Abbas.

He added: “Hamas will have no role in governance, and it, along with other factions, must hand over its weapons to the Palestinian Authority, because we want one unified state, without arms outside the framework of the law, under one legal system, and with one legitimate security force.

“We reaffirm our condemnation of the crimes of the occupation, as we also condemn the killing and kidnapping of civilians, including what Hamas committed on October 7, 2023”.

Abbas also said: “And I say to the Israeli people: Our future and your future lie in peace. Let the violence and war end. Our generations deserve to live in security and freedom, so that the peoples of our region may live in lasting peace and good neighborliness. On this occasion, I wish all Jews around the world a happy New Year on the occasion of Rosh Hashanah.”