Chief Rabbi Sir Ephraim Mirvis warns UK recognition of a Palestinian state while hostages remain in Hamas captivity “rewards terrorism” and betrays families’ pleas.
In an emotional rally outside Downing Street on Sunday, Chief Rabbi Sir Ephraim Mirvis delivered a searing rebuke to the UK government, accusing it of inflicting “a blow to the lives of each of our hostages” by considering recognition of a Palestinian state while dozens remain in Hamas captivity.
Addressing more than 5,000 attendees at the event organized by Stop the Hate and supported by the Board of Deputies and Jewish Leadership Council, Rabbi Mirvis questioned how ministers could “live with themselves” if they proceeded with recognition while families waited in anguish.
Quoting the words of a hostage’s relative, the Chief Rabbi declared:
“We are the brothers and sisters of all the hostages. Nothing is going to stop us from doing all we can to secure their release.”
He condemned Hamas as “the personification of evil”, citing its deliberate targeting of civilians and obstruction of humanitarian aid. But he stressed that unlike Hamas, “none of us wants to see the suffering of any single innocent person.”
‘If Hamas Is Celebrating, Something Is Wrong’
Mirvis voiced outrage that Hamas officials had welcomed the UK’s potential recognition of a Palestinian state.
“If the terror organization proscribed in the UK is congratulating our government, something is wrong. How will you ever be able to live with the fact you’ve recognised a Palestinian state with Hamas in charge and while hostages are still in captivity?”
He accused the government of breaking faith with its own commitments, noting that ministers had previously promised families they would “leave no stone unturned” in securing the hostages’ freedom.
Political Fallout
The Chief Rabbi’s remarks follow Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s announcement that the UK will recognize a Palestinian state by September if the Gaza situation does not improve — an ultimatum closely mirroring French President Emmanuel Macron’s position.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu blasted Starmer’s plan as “rewarding Hamas’s monstrous terrorism and punishing its victims”, warning:
“A jihadist state on Israel’s border today will threaten Britain tomorrow. Appeasement towards jihadist terrorists always fails. It will fail you too.”
Rabbi Mirvis closed his speech with a pointed challenge to the government, borrowing a line from the Labour Party’s own history:
“Judge us by deeds, not words.”
He urged ministers to act responsibly, making the release of every hostage a precondition for any recognition of Palestinian statehood.
