President Donald Trump has unequivocally rejected the initiatives by Britain and France to recognize a Palestinian state, asserting that such actions effectively serve as a reward for Hamas terrorists.
"You could make the case that you're rewarding people that, you know, you're rewarding Hamas if you do that," Trump remarked to reporters when questioned about the possibility of pressuring Israel towards a long-term resolution.
He further emphasized, "I don't think [Hamas] should be rewarded. I'm not in that camp, to be honest. We'll let you know where we are, but I am not in that camp because if you do that, you really are rewarding Hamas. And I'm not about to do that."
As reported by The Washington Free Beacon, these comments were made shortly after U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer declared his intention to recognize a Palestinian state by September unless Israel takes "substantive steps to end the appalling situation in Gaza" and commits to a two-state solution.
Trump clarified that during his recent meeting with Starmer in Scotland, the topic was not broached. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also criticized Starmer's announcement, stating it "rewards Hamas's monstrous terrorism & punishes its victims."
In a similar vein, France's decision to acknowledge Palestinian statehood was met with Trump's dismissal of French President Emmanuel Macron. "What he says doesn't matter," Trump stated, asserting that Macron's stance does not "carry any weight."
Meanwhile, Hamas has welcomed these international endorsements, with a spokesperson proclaiming, "The international support for Palestinian self-determination shows we are moving in the right direction. Victory and liberation are closer than we expected," as translated by journalist Khaled Abu Toameh.
In a related development, the Trump administration recently withdrew its diplomatic team from Qatar after two weeks of unsuccessful ceasefire negotiations with Hamas. The terror group had rejected the latest U.S. proposal and refused to release the remaining Israeli hostages. U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff explained, "We have decided to bring our team home from Doha for consultations after the latest response from Hamas, which clearly shows a lack of desire to reach a ceasefire in Gaza."
This series of events underscores the complexities of international diplomacy and the challenges faced by those seeking a peaceful resolution in the region. The Trump administration's stance reflects a commitment to not rewarding entities like Hamas, which continue to engage in terrorism and violence.
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