Over the weekend, Foreign Minister Saar spoke with Foreign Secretary Cooper. According to the Saar they discussed, “the Trump Plan, its implementation and the situation in Gaza. I raised the issue of the dead hostages and Hamas’s violation of the agreement in this regard. I also described Hamas’s efforts to consolidate its control over Gaza, as well as its mass and public executions without trial.”

• Saar added, “I also raised the need to take practical measures against the use of the slogan “From the river to the sea – Palestine will be free” in public spaces in the UK. This follows PM Starmer’s statement last week that the phrase constitutes an antisemitic expression. I added that the slogan is, in fact, a call for the elimination of Israel. A line must be drawn between freedom of expression and hate speech. I said that PM Starmer’s remarks should be part of a historic turning point in the UK’s fight against antisemitism. I added that legislation is needed to enforce a ban on the use of this slogan, as several federal states in Germany have already done.”
• “We also discussed the outrageous ban imposed by Birmingham police preventing Maccabi Tel Aviv fans from attending the Europe League match against Aston Villa at Villa Park on November 6. I expressed our clear and unequivocal expectation that this disgraceful decision be revoked and that Maccabi Tel Aviv fans be allowed to attend the game. The Foreign Secretary expressed the British government’s reservation about the decision and said that staff work, involving the Home Secretary and the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport would resume on Monday to find an appropriate solution.”
• Following Prime Minister’s welcome comments on Friday regarding the categorisation of inciting anti-Israel chants, it is hoped that this latest call starts a reset in UK-Israel ties  damaged following the UK’s recognition of a Palestinian state.
• On Sunday, Saar commented on the arrest of Jewish person allegedly for wearing the Star of David. He emphasised it’s “a symbol of Jewish identity, not provocation. The fact that Jews are warned in central London not to display it publicly shows how rampant antisemitism spread through hateful “pro-Palestinian” marches in Britain has poisoned the streets. This is a moral disgrace. British Authorities must act: ban antisemitic slogans and conduct a full institutional review.”

What’s happened: Following the deadly attack on a synagogue on Yom Kippur Israeli leaders sent their support to the UK Jewish community. 

• Prime Minister Netanyahu released a statement saying, “Israel grieves with the Jewish community in the UK after the barbaric terror attack in Manchester. Our hearts are with the families of the murdered, and we pray for the swift recovery of the wounded. As I warned at the UN: weakness in the face of terrorism only brings more terrorism. Only strength and unity can defeat it.”
• President Herzog also spoke with Jewish communal leaders and expressed his heartfelt sorrow over the attack, and sent his prayers and condolences to the victims and their families.
• Leader of the Opposition Lapid also sent his condolences to the families of the victims and prayers for those injured, adding, “faced with a wave of antisemitic incitement governments across the world must act forcefully to tackle this scourge and protect their communities.”
• Former prime minister and future candidate Naftali Bennett criticised the UK government writing on X, “In days when antisemitism is intensifying to dimensions we haven’t seen since the Holocaust, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer is burning to deliberately recognise a “Palestinian state” instead of focusing on his basic duty to protect Britain’s Jewish citizens. The loss of the moral compass in Europe and many other countries has negative repercussions toward the Jewish people.”  

Context: Many in the community feared that such an attack was a matter of time, particularly in the backdrop of protests calling to “globalise the intifada.”

• With prescient timing President Herzog wrote to King Charles at the beginning of the week warning him that “Jewish communities around the world face an unrelenting and unprecedented wave of antisemitism.”
• The President cited several examples from across the Commonwealth. Regarding the UK he wrote, “antisemitism persists at an alarmingly high level. The Community Security Trust recorded 1,521 incidents in the first half of 2025, the second-highest half-year figure on record, with an average of 254 monthly incidents representing a 58 per cent increase compared with the period preceding October, 2023.”
• “These figures attest to a continuing climate of insecurity that gravely undermines the sense of safety and belonging of Jewish communities across the United Kingdom.”
• Senior Israeli commentator Amit Segal has suggested that “the assessment in Israel is that Hamas directed” the attack.
• The Board of Deputies of  British Jews and the Jewish Leadership Council issued a joint statement, noting that: “At a time of rising antisemitism in the UK, this attack was sadly something we feared was coming. We call on all those in positions of power and influence to take the required action to combat hatred against Jewish people, and will be working with the authorities on a series of additional measures to protect our community over the coming days.”

What’s happened: In a coordinated move, the prime ministers of the UK, Canada and Australia all announced their countries’ recognition of a Palestinian state. They’ve been joined later in the evening by Portugal.

• In a video statement, Prime Minister Starmer accused Israel of “cruel tactics,” and called for the removal of restrictions on humanitarian aid to Gaza. The recognition, he said, was meant to preserve the possibility of peace, with a secure Israel alongside a viable Palestinian state.
• Starmer referred to Hamas as “a brutal terror organisation” and stressed that the recognition was not “a reward for Hamas,” since the group would have no role in the Palestinian government or security apparatus. He said that new sanctions against Hamas officials would be imposed in the coming weeks.
• Israel’s Foreign Ministry issued a sharp response that “categorically rejected” what it termed “the one-sided declaration of the recognition of a Palestinian state made by the United Kingdom and some other countries.” The Foreign Ministry said that “This declaration does not promote peace, but on the contrary—further destabilises the region and undermines the chances of achieving a peaceful solution in the future. Called by Hamas leaders ‘the fruits of the October 7 massacre’, the declaration not only rewards the biggest massacre of Jews since the Holocaust by a terror organisation that is calling and acting for the annihilation of Israel, but also solidifies the support Hamas enjoys.”
• Prime Minister Netanyahu said, “I have a clear message to those leaders who are recognising a Palestinian state after the horrendous October 7 massacre: You are rewarding terror with an enormous prize. And I have another message for you: It’s not going to happen. There will be no Palestinian state to the west of the Jordan River.”  
• Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said, “Most countries in the world have already recognised a ‘Palestinian state’ in the past. It was wrong in the past, too. But those governments that decided to join the recognition precisely now are also doing an immoral, outrageous, and especially ugly action. The governments that decided to do so after October 7th and when Israel is still engaged in a difficult military campaign against Hamas and its partners will be remembered with eternal shame.” He added, “Our future will not be determined in London or Paris. It will be determined in Jerusalem.”
• Leader of the Opposition Lapid said, “Recognition of a Palestinian state is a diplomatic disaster. It’s a terrible step and a reward for terrorism.”
• Head of the Democrats Yair Golan said, “Unilateral recognition of a Palestinian state is a grave diplomatic failure by Netanyahu and Smotrich—a destructive move for Israel’s security.”
• Former IDF Chief of Staff Gadi Eisenkot said, “The fact that while our hostages are languishing in Hamas tunnels, the world is preoccupied with this folly is the result of a resounding political failure by the government and Netanyahu, who failed to translate military achievements in a just war, which turned into a political collapse.”
• Hamas described the move as a tribute to what it called “the struggle, resilience, and sacrifices of the Palestinian people for liberation and the right of return.” Hamas added: “This recognition is an important step in maintaining the right of our Palestinian people to their land and holy sites, and to establishing their independent state with Jerusalem as its capital.”

Context: Even prior to yesterday’s announcements 148 countries had already recognised a Palestinian state, without it changing the reality on the ground.

• The difference this time was the coordinated announcements of three countries; France, Canada and the UK who are all members of the G7, an important achievement for the Palestinians.
• However the remaining four members of the G7 – Japan, Germany, Italy and the US – do not intend to recognise a Palestinian state at this time, and that is considered a success inside Israel. South Korea and Singapore are also not expected to endorse recognition.  
• Israeli commentators noted the other commonality between the UK, France and Canada being that they are all currently ruled by left-wing governments.
• Emphasising this ‘left-right’ divide, Foreign Minister Saar held calls with both Conservative leader Badenoch and Reform leader Farage yesterday. In his call with Badenoch, Saar emphasised the moral severity and diplomatic error in the British government’s decision. According to Saar, Badenoch expressed, “her fierce opposition to the British government’s decision” with Saar expressing Israel’s “appreciation for her position. I also said that we know we have more friends in the UK and we know how to distinguish between the English people and the English government.”
• Others are questioning whether this will be a Pyrrhic victory for the Palestinians. Palestinian Authority Chairman Abbas has already been denied a visa to enter the US, so will not attend the UN General Assembly, and will make his speech over video link.
• It remains the case that Israel is almost totally reliant on the support of the Trump administration. At the end of last week, the US once more vetoed a one-sided motion against Israel at the UN Security Council which called for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza. The text did not to condemn Hamas nor make the move conditional on releasing the hostages.
• In other positive developments the UN Security Council decided to renew sanctions against Iran, with the support of the UK, France and Germany, while an Iranian proposal to condemn Israel for the Twelve-Day War was defeated.
• Meanwhile, Israel appears to have enough support in the European Union, to block the Commission’s President Ursula von der Leyen move to suspend the trade agreements with Israel.

Looking ahead: Israel is expected to coordinate its response to the announcements of recognition with the US.    

• Netanyahu will once more meet President Trump at the end of the week and no declared response is expected until next week.  
• The possible responses range from complete restraint (unlikely), to the annexation of all of Judea and Samaria (also unlikely).  A smaller scale annexation – or extension of sovereignty – could be considered, but neither Netanyahu nor Trump want to jeopardise the Abraham Accords.
• Israel could go for a harsher response against France, as it is perceived to be the instigator of the announcements. One option is to close the French consulate in Jerusalem, but this could lead to further reciprocal steps that could further exacerbate tensions.  
• The security establishment is on a state of heightened alert in anticipation for potential riots and violent clashes, and attempted terror attacks by individuals or terrorist squads.

The meeting: Prime Minister Starmer welcomed Israeli President Isaac Herzog to No 10 yesterday, however the two reportedly had a number of “tough” exchanges on disagreements regarding the war in Gaza and British plans to recognise a Palestinian state later this month. 

• According to the British press release after the meeting, Starmer condemned Israel’s strike in Doha as “completely unacceptable” and “a flagrant violation of a key partner’s sovereignty.” 
• The statement ended by describing the UK and Israel as “longstanding allies” and ruling out any future role for Hamas in Palestinian governance.
• According to the Israeli press release, Herzog warned that the upcoming recognition of the Palestinian state would “embolden extremists across the Middle East and beyond.” He further  warned against “the dangerous echoing of Hamas’s propaganda campaign of starvation in Gaza.”
• Herzog spoke later at a Chatham House event where he said, “Things were said that were tough and strong, and clearly, we can argue, because when allies meet, they can argue. We are both democracies.”
• Starmer’s made a similar commitment – to reject any future role for Hamas in Gaza – when he met Palestinian Authority Chairman Abbas two days earlier. There was no public criticism directed against Abbas after that meeting, despite some hopes that issues of institutional incitement, pay to slay, and endemic corruption would be made.   

Doha strike: Responding to international criticism of Israel’s airstrike in Doha on a Hamas target, Prime Minister Netanyahu released a video statement in English:

• “What did America do in the wake of September 11? It promised to hunt down the terrorists who committed this heinous crime wherever they may be. And it passed a resolution in the Security Council of the UN two weeks later that said that governments cannot give harbour to terrorists. Yesterday, we acted along those lines. We went after the terrorist masterminds who committed the October 7 massacre. And we did so in Qatar which gives safe haven, it harbours terrorists, it finances Hamas, it gives its terrorist chieftains sumptuous villas, it gives them everything.”
• Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani criticised Netanyahu, accusing him of “wasting time” on hostage negotiations and adding that Qatar was “reassessing” its role as a mediator. He added, “What Netanyahu has done, he just killed any hope for those hostages. He broke every international law.”
• Other regional actors also condemned the Israeli attack in Doha. Saudi Arabia called it “brutal aggression” and a flagrant violation of the sovereignty of a “sisterly state.” The UAE called it a “blatant and cowardly act” and cancelled Israel’s participation in a prestigious air show. Turkey, which also hosts senior Hamas figures, accused Israel of having “adopted terrorism as state policy.”
• The Wall Street Journal describes a heated phone call between President Trump and Prime Minister Netanyahu yesterday, followed apparently by a second, more cordial one. In the first call, Trump expressed his dissatisfaction with the Israeli air strike in Doha, calling it “unwise,” and further expressed his disappointment at having learned of the impending strike from his military and not directly from Israel. 
• Qatari authorities reported that six people were killed in the Israeli air strike in Doha, including one Qatari security officer. Hamas has claimed that the five other fatalities in the airstrike do not include any of the senior officials targeted by Israel. There were conflicting reports in Arab media about injuries sustained by senior Hamas officials or the identities of some of the unnamed people killed in the strike. Hamas officials told Saudi newspaper Asharq Al-Awsat that two members of the organisation’s political bureau were wounded in Israel’s Tuesday strike on the Qatari capital, Doha, with one of them in serious condition.
• The prevailing Israeli assessment yesterday was that the strike did not succeed in killing its targets and that the senior Hamas officials were not in the room that was hit. One unnamed Israeli official was quoted anonymously in Maariv as saying, “This attack has a powerful psychological effect. We’re talking about murderers with blood on their hands. If they weren’t eliminated, we’ll remove them from the world at the next opportunity. Those murderers won’t have immunity anywhere.”
• A report in Israel Hayom indicates that the Shin Bet assessed that the strike in Doha could have an effect on morale in Gaza, highlighting their lavish lifestyles of Hamas leaders in comparison to the misery in the Strip.

Hostage released: Elizabeth Tzurkov, the Israeli citizen who was abducted in Baghdad while doing research for her Princeton doctoral thesis, was released from captivity and has arrived in Israel, where she is undergoing treatment at Sheba Hospital under the same protocol as hostages released from Gaza. 

• She was held in captivity for 903 days by Hezbollah affiliate in Iraq.

Looking ahead: Israeli preparations for a ground offensive in Gaza City continue, as does the evacuation of civilians from the city to southern parts of the Strip. 

• Since the IDF issued an evacuation order of the city on Tuesday, some 200,000 people left. Nearly one million people were estimated to be residing there before. Gaza City’s population before October 7 was just over 500,000. It was evacuated early in the war in 2023, but repopulated during the ceasefire in January-March 2025, including  many Gazans displaced from other places in the Strip.
• Multiple reports indicate that Egypt is eager to step in as a mediator in ceasefire talks. An Israeli attack on Egyptian soil similar to the one carried out in Doha would be unthinkable, something that could work to Cairo’s advantage. Egypt is also unlikely to permanently house Hamas terrorists in five-star hotels as Qatar has done for the last decade.