Amid rising calls from European nations to recognize Palestinian statehood, the Hostages and Missing Families Forum has called the moves counterproductive to peace, as 50 hostages remain in Hamas captivity for 663 days.
“Recognizing a Palestinian state while 50 hostages remain trapped in Hamas tunnels amounts to rewarding terrorism,” a spokesperson for the forum said on Wednesday. “Such recognition is not a step toward peace but rather a clear violation of international law and a dangerous moral and political failure that legitimizes horrific war crimes.”
The forum emphasized that a state cannot be founded on the basis of abducting men, women, and children, holding them against their will in inhumane conditions underground, and subjecting them to starvation as well as physical and mental abuse.
The forum noted that recognition of a Palestinian state before the release of the remaining hostages would send a message that terrorist activities would be validated as a legitimate pathway to political goals.
They called for the international community to join the United States’ efforts to call for the release of the hostages, followed by an end to fighting.
“The essential first step toward ensuring a better future for all peoples must be the release of all hostages through a single, comprehensive deal,” the spokesperson said.
Following British Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s announcement of a potential September UK recognition of a Palestinian state, representatives of the families of British citizens held hostage in Gaza, as well as hostages with close ties to the country, have raised concerns over his decision.
British citizen Emily Damari was released from captivity in February 2025, and Nadav Popplewell was murdered in captivity in June 2024. Presumed living hostage Avinatan Or, whose mother is British, is still held in captivity, as is the body of slain hostage Yossi Sharabi.
“For almost two years, the British hostage families have encouraged the UK to use any leverage it has to help secure the release of their loved ones. They have sat in 10 Downing Street with successive prime ministers and foreign secretaries who have looked them in the eyes and promised the UK will do everything in its power to secure the immediate and unconditional release of their loved ones, whose detention is unambiguously a war crime,” the statement said.
“We are concerned that the UK’s proposal risks delaying the release of the hostages. This is because the UK has said that it will recognize a Palestinian state unless Israel agrees to a ceasefire. But the risk is that Hamas will continue to refuse a ceasefire because if it agrees to one, this would make UK recognition less likely,” the statement added.
The representatives of the families noted the deep concern associated with the UK’s approach, claiming it disincentivizes Hamas from releasing the hostages, risking what the prime minister claims the country will not do: reward Hamas for its despicable acts.
Which European countries have called for Palestinian statehood recognition?
Prior to France’s decision to recognize Palestine, 10 out of 27 European Union (EU) countries had already recognized Palestinian statehood. Among those are Bulgaria, Cyprus, Hungary, Poland, and Romania, all of which recognized Palestine in 1988 prior to joining the EU.
The former country of Czechoslovakia also recognized Palestinian statehood in 1988, but after splitting into the Czech Republic and Slovakia in 1992, the Czech Republic did not recognize the state. Slovakia reconfirmed recognition in 1993.
In October 2014, Sweden became the first EU country to recognize Palestinian statehood while a member of the union. In May 2024, amidst Israel’s ongoing war against Hamas in Gaza following the October 7 massacre just seven months before, Spain and Ireland recognized a Palestinian state. The countries claimed it was an effort toward peace.
Weeks later, Slovenia made the same recognition on June 4.
On Thursday, French President Emmanuel Macron announced plans to recognize a Palestinian state, scolded by both Netanyahu and US leadership, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio. "This reckless decision only serves Hamas propaganda and sets back peace. It is a slap in the face to the victims of October 7th," Rubio wrote on X.
Malta announced on Tuesday their plan to recognize a Palestinian state, as well as the United Kingdom. UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer told the UK cabinet that they will make the recognition in September, unless Israel takes "substantive steps to end the appalling situation in Gaza," Starmer’s office announced on Tuesday. Starter denied that the recognition was set up as a punishment for Israel.
Countries including Germany and Italy have announced no plans to recognize such a state; Belgian officials stated that it is on the table for the government to decide in early September.