A British-Israeli woman who was held captive by Hamas for over 15 months has criticized Keir Starmer for what she called a "moral failure" after he indicated the UK would recognize a Palestinian state.
Emily Damari, 29, freed in January, stated the prime minister was "not on the right side of history" and should feel ashamed.
Her remarks followed comments from lawyers representing British relatives of hostages in Gaza, who warned that the UK’s decision could reduce incentives for Hamas to release captives.
Starmer announced on Tuesday that the UK would proceed with recognizing a Palestinian state in September unless Israel agreed to a ceasefire and committed to a two-state resolution.
The UK also demanded Hamas release all hostages immediately, surrender its weapons, agree to a truce, and accept it would have no governing role in Gaza.
On Instagram, Damari wrote: "Prime Minister Starmer is not on the right side of history. If he had led during World War II, would he have supported recognizing Nazi control over occupied nations like Holland, France, or Poland?"
"This isn’t diplomacy—it’s a moral failure. Shame on you, prime minister."
"As a British-Israeli who endured 471 days as a hostage, I am deeply troubled by Starmer’s decision. This doesn’t promote peace—it risks rewarding terror. It sends a dangerous signal: that violence leads to legitimacy."
Damari was wounded in the leg and hand when taken from her home in the Kfar Aza kibbutz on 7 October 2023. She was seized from her safe room alongside friends Ziv and Gali Berman, twin brothers still held in Gaza.
Since her release as part of a truce agreement, she has advocated for freeing an estimated 20 remaining hostages and retrieving the remains of about 30 others.
In a separate statement, lawyers Adam Rose and Adam Wagner, representing British-linked hostage families since October 2023, accused the UK of turning captives into a "bargaining chip." They warned, "Hamas may prolong ceasefire refusal since UK recognition becomes less likely if a deal is reached."
The families had urged Starmer to "clearly confirm that Hamas won’t be rewarded and the UK will delay substantive steps until all hostages are freed."
They added, "For nearly two years, British families have urged the UK to leverage its influence. They’ve met multiple prime ministers and foreign secretaries at Downing Street, receiving assurances that the UK would do all possible to secure their loved ones' immediate, unconditional release—detention without justification under international law."
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