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UK Rejects Criticism That Move to Recognize Palestinian State Rewards Hamas 

Demonstrators gather outside the UN Headquarters during a "Stop Starving Gaza" protest in New York City, US, July 29, 2025. (Reuters)
Demonstrators gather outside the UN Headquarters during a "Stop Starving Gaza" protest in New York City, US, July 29, 2025. (Reuters)
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UK Rejects Criticism That Move to Recognize Palestinian State Rewards Hamas 

Demonstrators gather outside the UN Headquarters during a "Stop Starving Gaza" protest in New York City, US, July 29, 2025. (Reuters)
Demonstrators gather outside the UN Headquarters during a "Stop Starving Gaza" protest in New York City, US, July 29, 2025. (Reuters)

Britain on Wednesday rejected criticism that it was rewarding the Hamas group by setting out plans to recognize a Palestinian state unless Israel took steps to improve the situation in Gaza and bring about peace.

The sight of emaciated Gaza children has shocked the world in recent days and on Tuesday, a hunger monitor warned that a worst-case scenario of famine was unfolding there and immediate action was needed to avoid widespread death.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer's ultimatum, setting a September deadline for Israel, prompted an immediate rebuke from his counterpart in Jerusalem, who said it rewarded Hamas and punished the victims of their 2023 cross-border attack.

US President Donald Trump said he did not think Hamas "should be rewarded" with recognition of Palestinian independence.

Asked about that criticism, British Transport Minister Heidi Alexander - designated by the government to respond to questions in a series of media interviews on Wednesday - said it was not the right way to characterize Britain's plan.

“This is not a reward for Hamas. Hamas is a vile terrorist organization that has committed appalling atrocities. This is about the Palestinian people. It's about those children that we see in Gaza who are starving to death,” she told LBC radio.

“We've got to ratchet up pressure on the Israeli government to lift the restrictions to get aid back into Gaza.”

France announced last week it would recognize Palestinian statehood in September.

Successive British governments have said they would recognize a Palestinian state when it was most effective to do so.

In a televised address on Tuesday, Starmer said that moment had now come, highlighting the suffering in Gaza and saying the prospect of a two-state solution - a Palestinian state coexisting in peace alongside Israel - was under threat.

Starmer said Britain would make the move at the UN General Assembly in September unless Israel took substantive steps to allow more aid to enter Gaza, made clear there will be no annexation of the West Bank and committed to a long-term peace process that delivered a two-state solution.

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Arab World

EU Proposes Full Resumption of Syria Cooperation Accord

Members of the Syrian security forces (AFP – file photo)
Members of the Syrian security forces (AFP – file photo)
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EU Proposes Full Resumption of Syria Cooperation Accord

Members of the Syrian security forces (AFP – file photo)
Members of the Syrian security forces (AFP – file photo)

Brussels on Monday proposed EU states fully restart the bloc's cooperation agreement with Syria, in the latest step to help bolster the country after the ouster of Bashar al-Assad.

The deal -- which abolishes customs duties on imports of most industrial products from Syria -- was partially suspended in 2011 when Assad's regime ruthlessly cracked down on protests at the start of the civil war.

The 27-nation EU has launched a new chapter with Syria since Assad's ouster from power in December 2024 after over a decade of fighting that devastated the country and sent millions of refugees abroad.

European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen announced a 620-million-euro ($730 million) two-year financial support package during a visit to Damascus in January.

The bloc has also dropped economic sanctions as it looks to help the authorities under President Ahmed al-Sharaa to rebuild the country and reintegrate internationally.

EU diplomats said that the push to resume the cooperation deal -- which needs approval from member states -- comes ahead of the launch of a new "high-level political dialogue" with Syria next month.

The EU could also look to strike a more ambitious deal to deepen ties with Damascus, the diplomats said.

Some European countries have expressed interest in seeing refugees who came from Syria during the civil war return to their homeland.

Arab World

Berri to Asharq Al-Awsat: US Working to Extend Lebanon-Israel Ceasefire

Parliament speaker meets with US ambassador to Lebanon Michel Issa (Lebanese Presidency)
Parliament speaker meets with US ambassador to Lebanon Michel Issa (Lebanese Presidency)
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Berri to Asharq Al-Awsat: US Working to Extend Lebanon-Israel Ceasefire

Parliament speaker meets with US ambassador to Lebanon Michel Issa (Lebanese Presidency)
Parliament speaker meets with US ambassador to Lebanon Michel Issa (Lebanese Presidency)

Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri said the US is working to extend the ceasefire between Lebanon and Israel, while President Joseph Aoun confirmed that “bilateral negotiations will be handled by Lebanon through a delegation headed by Ambassador Simon Karam, and no one will take part on Lebanon’s behalf or replace it in this mission.”

US Ambassador to Lebanon Michel Issa visited Aoun and Berri after returning to Beirut for the first time since the announcement of a 10-day temporary truce, without making any media statements.

Berri told Asharq Al-Awsat that Washington is pursuing efforts to extend the ceasefire, declining to disclose his position on the direct negotiations with Israel that the president is planning.

In remarks distributed by the Lebanese presidency’s media office, Aoun said negotiations aim to halt hostilities, end the Israeli occupation of areas in the south, and deploy the army along the internationally recognized southern border.

Aoun added: “US President Donald Trump showed full understanding and responsiveness during our call regarding Lebanon’s demands, and intervened with Israel to halt hostilities and prepare to launch a negotiating track that would end the abnormal situation and restore the authority of the Lebanese state and its sovereignty over all its territory, foremost the south.”

He said contacts would continue to preserve the ceasefire and begin negotiations, which should be backed by the broadest national support so the negotiating team can achieve its objectives.

He continued: “The upcoming negotiations are separate from any other talks, because Lebanon faces two options: either the continuation of war with its humanitarian, social, economic and sovereignty-related consequences, or negotiations to put an end to this war and achieve sustainable stability. I have chosen negotiations, and I remain hopeful that we can save Lebanon.”

Arab World

Lebanon President Says Israel Talks Aim to End Hostilities, Occupation

FILED - 16 February 2026, Lebanon, Beirut: Lebanese President Joseph Aoun speaks during a joint press conference with German President Steinmeier (not pictrued) at the presidential palace. Photo: Markus Lenhardt/dpa
FILED - 16 February 2026, Lebanon, Beirut: Lebanese President Joseph Aoun speaks during a joint press conference with German President Steinmeier (not pictrued) at the presidential palace. Photo: Markus Lenhardt/dpa
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Lebanon President Says Israel Talks Aim to End Hostilities, Occupation

FILED - 16 February 2026, Lebanon, Beirut: Lebanese President Joseph Aoun speaks during a joint press conference with German President Steinmeier (not pictrued) at the presidential palace. Photo: Markus Lenhardt/dpa
FILED - 16 February 2026, Lebanon, Beirut: Lebanese President Joseph Aoun speaks during a joint press conference with German President Steinmeier (not pictrued) at the presidential palace. Photo: Markus Lenhardt/dpa

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun said Monday that planned talks with Israel aim to end hostilities and the Israeli occupation in the south, as he named an ex-ambassador to the United States to lead the delegation.

"The choice to negotiate aims to stop hostilities, end the Israeli occupation of southern regions and deploy the (Lebanese) army all the way to the internationally recognized southern borders" with Israel, Aoun said in a statement.

A 10-day ceasefire pausing more than six weeks of war between Hezbollah and Israel started on Friday after being announced by US President Donald Trump.

More than 2,300 people have been killed in Israeli attacks and over a million displaced since Hezbollah dragged Lebanon into the Middle East conflict last month.

Aoun named former Lebanese ambassador to Washington Simon Karam to head the negotiations with Israel, and said "no one will share this task with Lebanon or take its place".

Iran-backed Hezbollah is not part of the talks and its supporters strongly oppose bilateral Lebanon-Israel negotiations.

Senior Hezbollah official Mahmud Qamati blasted Aoun on Saturday, saying "defeated, you go to the Israelis and Americans, let's see what you will get out of it".

The truce in Lebanon was one of Iran's conditions for resuming talks with Washington to extend their separate ceasefire and work out the terms of a lasting peace.

But Aoun said Monday that the Israel-Lebanon talks will be "separate from any other negotiations", in an implicit reference to the US-Iran diplomacy.

"Lebanon is facing two options: either the continuation of the war, with all its humanitarian, social, economic, and sovereign repercussions, or negotiations to put an end to this war and achieve lasting stability," he said.

"I have chosen negotiations, and I am full of hope that we will be able to save Lebanon."