The president of the Palestinian authority, Mahmoud Abbas, spoke on Monday, September 8 with Keir Starmer in Downing Street, in London, while London is closer to the recognition of the state of Palestine.
The two leaders discussed “the urgency of ending the terrible sufferings and famine” in Gaza and the release of hostages held by Hamas, said a Downing Street spokesman.
Towards a British recognition of the Palestinian state
Mahmoud Abbas praised “the commitment” of the United Kingdom to “recognize a Palestinian state during the UN General Assembly”, which is celebrated from September 9 to 23 in New York, “unless Israel changed the course,” added the spokesman. Several countries, including France, have announced their intention to recognize the State of Palestine during the General Assembly.
Keir Starmer announced at the end of July that his country would recognize the state of Palestine in September, unless Israel assumed a series of commitments, including that of a high fire in the Gaza Strip. This announcement had been strongly condemned by Israel.
During their meeting, the two leaders agreed that “there would be no paper for Hamas in the future Palestine government” and insisted on the need for a “long -term solution” to the conflict.
Mahmoud Abbas, 89, arrived in London on Sunday, September 7 for a three -day visit. Last month, the United States rejected or revoked visas to about 80 Palestinians, including the president of the Palestinian authority for the UN General Assembly.
During his interview, Keir Starmer “praised Mahmoud Abbas’s commitment” to “reform the Palestinian authority.”
Diplomatic meetings in London
Israeli President Isaac Herzog is also expected in the United Kingdom. According to his office, he had to leave Israel on Tuesday “for an official visit to London” and should return to his country on Friday. Downing Street did not confirm a meeting with Keir Starmer.
The Israeli president “will concentrate”, “during his diplomatic meetings”, in the liberation of hostages, “in parallel with other political questions,” according to his office. He will meet with members of Parliament, opinion leaders and media personalities, said the Israeli presidency.
The objective of Isaac Herzog’s visit, which has a protocol role especially, is to show its “solidarity with the Jewish community, suffering violent attacks and faces a wave of anti -Semitism,” according to this source.
He was invited “by the main organizations of the” Jewish community, before which he will say speeches in dedicated conferences “in support” to Israel and “to the fight against anti -Semitism.”
Israel considers that recognizing a Palestinian state is equivalent to granting “a reward for Hamas”, after the massacres of October 7, 2023 committed by the Palestinian Islamist movement. The October 7 attack led to the death of 1,219 people on the Israeli side, mostly civilians, according to an AFP count made of official data.
The Israeli retaliation campaign left at least 64,522 dead in the Gaza Strip, mostly women and children, according to the Gaza Ministry of Health.
Source: BFM TV
