Freed hostage Emily Damari denounced British Prime Minister Keir Starmer's Tuesday announcement of the UK's plans to recognize a Palestinian state in September in a post on her personal X/Twitter on Wednesday.
Damari, who is a dual Israeli-British citizen, spent 471 days as a hostage in Hamas's terror captivity after being kidnapped during the October 7 massacre.
"I am deeply saddened by your decision," she wrote, adding that "This move does not advance peace, it risks rewarding terror."
"It sends a dangerous message: that violence earns legitimacy. By legitimising a state entity while Hamas still controls Gaza and continues its campaign of terror, you are not promoting a solution; you are prolonging the conflict," she added.
"Recognition under these conditions emboldens extremists and undermines any hope for genuine peace. Shame on you," she concluded.
What did Starmer announce?
Starmer told the UK Cabinet that the UK will recognize a Palestinian state in September, unless the Israeli government takes "substantive steps to end the appalling situation in Gaza," his office announced on Tuesday afternoon.
Israel must also make clear that there will be no annexation in the West Bank, Starmer threatened.
The timing of the recognition will be before the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), the announcement added.
"Our overwhelming concern is for the Israeli hostages and the people of Gaza. We must do all we can to end the current suffering and change the situation on the ground," he said.
Starmer also reaffirmed that Hamas is a terrorist organization responsible for atrocities, including the October 7 massacre, and "must never be rewarded."
Britain on Wednesday rejected criticism that it was rewarding terrorist group Hamas by setting out plans to recognize a Palestinian state unless Israel took steps to improve the situation in Gaza and bring about peace.
Other reactions to Starmer's statement
Israel's ambassador to the UN, Danny Danon, criticized the United Kingdom's threat to recognize a Palestinian state in September unless Israel takes “substantive steps to end the appalling situation in Gaza,” according to Starmer’s statement to the UK Cabinet on Tuesday.
"Israel has already agreed many times to a ceasefire," Danon wrote on X/Twitter, following the UK's demands for an immediate ceasefire, aid to be allowed into Gaza on a continuing basis, and the release of hostages.
Amid rising calls from European nations to recognize Palestinian statehood, the Hostages and Missing Families Forum has called the moves counterproductive to peace, as 50 hostages remain in Hamas captivity for 663 days.
“Recognizing a Palestinian state while 50 hostages remain trapped in Hamas tunnels amounts to rewarding terrorism,” a spokesperson for the forum said on Wednesday morning. “Such recognition is not a step toward peace, but rather a clear violation of international law and a dangerous moral and political failure that legitimizes horrific war crimes.”
The forum emphasized that a state cannot be founded on the basis of abducting men, women, and children, holding them against their will in inhumane conditions underground, and starving them while enduring physical and mental abuse.
British Jewish groups expressed deep concern on Tuesday night that Starmer's proposition of a Palestinian state would be a reward for terrorism.
The Board of Deputies of British Jews announced it was seeking urgent clarification from the British government that it will not recognize a Palestinian state if the hostages are not returned or if Hamas continues to reject a ceasefire.
Campaign Against Antisemitism called Starmer's declaration "morally indefensible."
US President Donald Trump said he did not think Hamas "should be rewarded" with recognition of Palestinian independence.
Joanie Margulies, Mathilda Heller, and Reuters contributed to this report.