Lammy to hostage families: We’re not rewarding Hamas

David Lammy has revealed he had a “deeply moving” meeting with the families of UK-linked Gaza hostages, where he attempted to counter criticism that recognition of a Palestinian state later this month would reward the Hamas terrorists who carried out the 7 October attacks.

The Foreign Secretary told Jewish News that those present at Tuesday’s meeting included Moshe Or, whose brother Avinatan is “still being cruelly held in captivity in Gaza”.

“It was a deeply moving reminder of the unbearable pain they have suffered,” added Lammy, who confirmed that the talks had included discussion on why the government had chosen to announce it would pursue its path of Palestinian recognition at the UN General Assembly meeting later this month.

On Monday, he told MPs the controversial move would still go ahead at a meeting in New York beginning on September 23rd unless the Israel government takes “substantive steps” to end the appalling situation in Gaza and commit to a long-term sustainable peace.

The government’s plan has been strongly criticised by UK Jewish communal organisations including the Board of Deputies and Jewish Leadership Council, as well as by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who claimed it amounted to “rewarding Hamas” while the hostages, around 20 of whom are still believed to be alive, are held in Gaza.

“I assured the families today that our commitment to securing the release of the remaining hostages is resolute,” revealed Lammy.

“We will continue to work tirelessly to end this nightmare and to ensure that Hamas can never again inflict such terror on innocent people. The hostages must come home, and we will not rest until they do.”

He continued: “Our intention to recognise a State of Palestine is not about rewarding Hamas, which is a terrorist organisation.

“It’s about protecting the two-state solution’s viability at a critical moment. This is essential to Israel’s long-term security and regional position.”

Praising the “incredible strength” the families of hostages have shown through the horrendous ordeal, Lammy added: “Hamas are a brutal terrorist organisation and bears full responsibility for the appalling atrocity on 7 October 2023, and for the continued suffering of the hostages who remain in Gaza.

“Our demands on Hamas are unconditional and absolute. Commit to a ceasefire — now. Release the hostages — now. Disarm — now.

“End your governance of Gaza – now. We will not hand Hamas any veto or role in the future of a Palestinian state. This is a matter of principle.

“Hamas do not represent the Palestinian people, and we will never recognise them as a governing entity”.

The Foreign Secretary also made strong criticism of the Israeli government, telling the families: “At the same time, the Israeli government’s actions in Gaza are causing an unbearable humanitarian catastrophe and will not bring the hostages home or make them safer, as hostage families have recognised.

“The two-state solution – the only path to lasting peace and security for both Israelis and Palestinians – faces unprecedented threat, including from settlement expansion in the West Bank”.

Avinatan Or, 32, is one of the 20 hostages Israel believes to be still alive in the Strip.

He was abducted from the Nova festival and separated from his girlfriend, Noa Argamani, who was rescued by Israeli soldiers in June 2024.

A Hamas video of Or and Argamani  from 7 October was posted on Telegram, showing Argamani on an all-terrain vehicle, as she called in fear, crying, “Don’t kill me!” reaching out her arms to Or, who was being marched away from her, surrounded by at least three terrorists.

After the report was published, Argamani, who has campaigned relentlessly around the world for the hostages, posted on Instagram, that “until Avinatan  comes back, my heart is in captivity.”

Since becoming foreign secretary, Lammy has held meetings with several family members of Gaza hostages, including Sharon Sharabi, brother of hostages Eli Sharabi and Yossi Sharabi, and with Emily Damari’s mother Mandy.

In the Commons on Tuesday, Lammy also told MPs: “We have been clear that we will recognise a Palestinian state by the United Nations General Assembly in September to protect the viability of the two-state solution, unless the Israeli Government take substantive steps to end the appalling situation in Gaza and commits to a long-term sustainable peace.”

Responding to criticism that the UK should be recognising Palestine immediately because Israel had failed to adhere to any of the conditions asked of it by the UK, Lammy told the SNP’s Chris Law: “High-level week is not actually next week; it is in three weeks time.

“May I say that it is most bizarre to say to a responsible Government that they should not attempt to change the situation on the ground to encourage Israel to commit to a ceasefire and to a process?

“Of course, we should use all diplomatic efforts to do that, notwithstanding what we said about the assessment we will make on recognition at the appropriate time.”

Asked to clarify that there would be no role for Hamas in any future state, he said: “Let me be crystal clear. Hamas must never be rewarded, and we will not reward it by the UK’s recognition of Palestine if we reach that point.

“Our demands of Hamas are absolute and unchanged: it must immediately release all the hostages who were cruelly taken on 7 October 2023 and held in the most atrocious conditions, which we have already discussed in the chamber this morning.”

But in a statement on Tuesday, the Board’s vice-president Adrian Cohen said: “We remain deeply concerned that UK plans to recognise a Palestinian state, reiterated by the Foreign Secretary yesterday, risk rewarding Hamas’s violence and intransigence rather than maximising pressure for the hostages’ release”.