WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump views the recognition of a Palestinian state by key allies, including the United Kingdom, as effectively rewarding Hamas for its attack on Israel, the White House said on Monday.
“Frankly, he believes it’s a reward to Hamas. So he believes these decisions are just more talk and not enough action from some of our friends and allies,” Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told a briefing on Monday.
Leavitt continues: “He feels this does not do anything to free the hostages, which is the primary goal in Gaza, does nothing to end this conflict, and bring this war to a close.
On Sunday, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and Portugal formally recognised the State of Palestine at the UN meeting, in what observers described as a historic turning point.
Britain and Canada became the first G7 members to extend recognition, with France, Belgium, Luxembourg, and Malta expected to follow during the week.
While the summit may offer a symbolic boost to Palestinian morale, it is unlikely to bring any immediate changes on the ground. Israel’s most far-right government in history has firmly rejected the idea of a Palestinian state and continues its military campaign against Hamas in Gaza.
While the majority of European states now recognise a Palestinian state, both Germany and Italy have signalled they are unlikely to make such a move soon.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu denounced the recognition moves, vowing to fight them at the UN.
The United States also cautioned against what it called “premature recognition,” insisting Palestinian statehood should come only through direct negotiations with Israel.
The two-state solution, once the foundation of the US-backed peace process launched by the 1993 Oslo Accords, has faced sustained opposition from both sides and is now largely defunct.
