UK Defence Secretary Grant Shapps has stated that creating two separate states is the only solution to the ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestine. Shapps expressed his disappointment at Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s rejection of this idea, but affirmed that he was not surprised given Netanyahu’s political history. According to a statement released by Netanyahu’s office, the prime minister reiterated his view that Israel must retain security control over Gaza to protect it from becoming a threat to the country after the destruction of Hamas, which contradicts the idea of Palestinian sovereignty.
Speaking to BBC’s Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg programme, Shapps reiterated that Palestinians deserve a sovereign state, while Israel deserves the right to defend itself and its own security. Shapps argued that the pursuit of a two-state solution is the only way to resolve the ongoing conflict. He further stated that there were various opinions within the Israeli government and emphasised the UK’s support for Israel as a country.
The UK Labour party has also expressed its commitment to the recognition of a Palestinian state. Shadow Foreign Secretary David Lammy described Netanyahu’s position as unacceptable and asserted that both Israelis and Palestinians deserve equal rights. Netanyahu’s stance has deepened the divide between the US and Israel, with President Joe Biden insisting that a two-state solution is still attainable despite Netanyahu’s rejection of the idea.
The Hamas attack on southern Israel on 7 October took about 1,300 lives and resulted in 240 hostages. In response, Israel launched airstrikes and a ground invasion of the Gaza Strip. The current conflict has led to the death of over 25,000 people in Gaza, according to the territory’s Hamas-run health ministry
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