Netanyahu Accuses UK’s Starmer of ‘Appeasing Jihadi Terrorists’ After Pledge to Recognize Palestinian State

Israeli leader lashes out after British PM warns of recognition if Gaza war drags on; backlash signals new diplomatic rift

The war in Gaza has now turned into a war of words between London and Jerusalem.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu erupted Tuesday night after UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced Britain could unilaterally recognize a Palestinian state if Israel doesn’t end its military operations in Gaza. The sharp rebuke, posted publicly on social media, accuses Starmer of “rewarding Hamas’s monstrous terrorism” and playing into the hands of jihadist groups.

The language was blunt. The timing? Deliberate.

“It will not happen”: Netanyahu’s angry response draws the line

Netanyahu’s response was as fiery as it was fast.

“Starmer rewards Hamas’s monstrous terrorism and punishes its victims,” the Israeli prime minister wrote on X. “A jihadist state on Israel’s border today will threaten Britain tomorrow. Appeasement towards jihadist terrorists always fails. It will fail you, too. It will not happen.”

That last sentence — short and cold — wasn’t just a prediction. It sounded like a warning.

This is the first major diplomatic clash between the two leaders since Starmer swept into power earlier this month, and it comes at a fragile moment for Israel’s international standing. Gaza’s humanitarian crisis is deepening. Civilian deaths continue to rise. And support for Israel’s handling of the war is visibly eroding — not just among protestors, but now in global capitals.

Starmer’s shift signals a new UK position — and it’s not subtle

Starmer has not always been a vocal critic of Israel. But over the past few weeks, under pressure from his own party and public sentiment, the new UK government has gradually changed tone.

On Monday, Starmer said the UK is “prepared to recognise the state of Palestine if Israel fails to halt the violence in Gaza and commit to meaningful negotiations.”

It was a significant shift. One that essentially put Israel on the clock.

According to sources inside Downing Street, the policy doesn’t come out of nowhere. It follows weeks of behind-the-scenes lobbying from Labour MPs and foreign policy advisors, some of whom have grown frustrated with the Israeli government’s refusal to budge on ceasefire demands.

One senior Labour aide summed it up quietly: “Enough is enough.”

A familiar Netanyahu tactic — but now facing new resistance

Netanyahu is no stranger to clashes with European leaders. Over the years, he’s tangled with France, Germany, and even previous UK prime ministers.

But this time feels different.

The geopolitical landscape has shifted. Starmer is riding high off a fresh mandate. He’s less tied to Washington’s cues and more willing to move independently on issues like international recognition and sanctions.

Netanyahu’s playbook — which usually involves framing criticism as anti-Israel or even antisemitic — is still in motion. But the results seem less reliable now. There’s growing pushback — even from traditional allies.

One former Israeli diplomat said Tuesday night: “Netanyahu’s tried this script before. It’s getting old.”

British public mood adds pressure on Starmer to act

It’s not just about political posturing. The British public is increasingly fed up with the Gaza war.

Polls over the past three months show a steep drop in support for Israel’s military actions. Protests in London have drawn tens of thousands. Even some military veterans and Jewish organizations in the UK have called for an immediate ceasefire.

That environment gave Starmer political cover — and maybe even political necessity — to take a harder stance.

A YouGov poll released last week showed:

• 61% of UK adults support the recognition of Palestine as a state

• 18% oppose

• 21% undecided

That’s a clear majority — and a sign that the Labour government’s move wasn’t out of step with its electorate.

Israel fears wider domino effect from UK recognition

For Israel, Britain’s potential recognition of Palestine isn’t just symbolic — it’s strategic.

Such a move could embolden other European countries to follow suit. France has already hinted it’s considering its own shift. Ireland, Spain, and Norway recognized Palestine earlier this year. And if London joins the list, it adds real diplomatic weight.

Here’s what that could mean:

That’s the fear inside Netanyahu’s camp — a cascading effect that leaves Israel increasingly isolated in Western Europe.

Hamas weighs in — and the optics are tricky for both sides

Complicating the diplomatic firestorm is how Hamas itself responds.

In a brief statement released Tuesday evening, a Hamas spokesperson praised Starmer’s “moral and courageous stance,” which immediately gave ammunition to Netanyahu’s framing — that the UK is giving credibility to terrorists.

But analysts warn against taking such comments at face value.

“This is the political equivalent of Hamas photo-bombing a press release,” said one Middle East analyst. “They’re trying to spin anything into a win. But the UK government isn’t endorsing Hamas. They’re threatening recognition of Palestine as leverage for a ceasefire.”

Still, the headlines write themselves. And in politics, perception often trumps nuance.

The days ahead: more noise, or real consequences?

So where does this all go?

For now, the UK hasn’t taken concrete action beyond words. But Starmer’s threat is out there — and it’s conditional. If Israel continues its war in Gaza without meaningful diplomatic steps, recognition of a Palestinian state could be just around the corner.

Whether it happens or not, one thing’s certain: the rift between Jerusalem and London just got deeper. And the Gaza war isn’t just shifting lines on a battlefield anymore — it’s redrawing lines in foreign ministries across the globe.