The largest advocacy group for Israeli hostages past and present blasted the unilateral recognition of a Palestinian state by several countries on Sunday.
The Hostages and Missing Persons Families Forum issued a statement which “condemns various nations’ unconditional recognition of a Palestinian state while turning a blind eye to the fact that 48 hostages remain in Hamas captivity following the October 7th massacre,” referring to the Hamas-led invasion of southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023,
Australia, Canada and the United Kingdom all announced on Sunday their recognition of a “State of Palestine,” defying warnings from the American and Israeli governments that such a move would serve as a reward for terrorism.
The Forum concurred, calling “such significant political rewards” without the return of the hostages “a catastrophic failure of political, moral, and diplomatic leadership.”
“As families who deeply want peace in the region, we believe that any discussion about recognizing a Palestinian state must be contingent upon the immediate release of all hostages,” the Forum said. “This is not just a precondition—it is a moral and humanitarian imperative.”
While Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said in Sunday’s announcement that “It is imperative that Hamas release all hostages, and Australian premier Anthony Albanese said “the terrorist organization Hamas must have no role in Palestine,” none of the three countries making pronouncements on Sunday tied recognition to the release of the hostages, or directly conditioned recognition on Hamas’s removal from power.
“We call on all nations to act responsibly and ensure that any ‘day after’ discussions occur only after our loved ones are brought home,” the Forum said in response. “We seek an end to this war, the safe return of all hostages and a sustainable peace that benefits both peoples.”
