Cooper tightens UK-Israel rift at UN, accusing Netanyahu of pandering to extremists

Yvette Cooper widened Britain's rift with Israel during a UN General Assembly address in New York on Thursday night, accusing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of pandering to extremists and letting children starve in an unbearable humanitarian catastrophe by escalating the Gaza war and withholding aid. In remarks that framed Britain's stance as distinct from Israel's current policy, Cooper urged a recalibration toward humanitarian relief and a renewed commitment to a negotiated two-state solution.

She argued that Netanyahu's vow never to allow the creation of a Palestinian state runs counter to any long-term peace framework and noted that Britain and other leading nations had recognised a Palestinian state in a move she described as distinct from Hamas’s terror. Cooper said Hamas terrorists continue to hold hostages seized in the brutal attack of October 7, prolonging the anguish of their families, while the Gaza crisis deepens as the Israeli government escalates fighting and limits aid.

The Foreign Secretary also cited external criticism of Britain’s stance, including comments from the White House that described the move as rewarding Hamas and not advancing hostage releases or a path to end the conflict. Karoline Leavitt, the White House press secretary, said Washington believed the decision did nothing to free hostages or bring the war to a close, and risked signaling that extremism could be rewarded. The note of contention underscored a broader tension between long-held Western support for Israel and growing calls for humanitarian access and a credible pathway to Palestinian statehood.

Cooper emphasized that a sustainable settlement requires a two-state solution that preserves the viability of any Palestinian state and rejects settlement expansion that, in her view, threatens that prospect. She warned that the two-state solution was at risk of “disappearing beneath the rubble” if current approaches persisted and urged international partners to take a more active role in ensuring that any future Palestinian government excludes Hamas from power and respects international norms.

The British position comes as domestic politics in London continue to be deeply entwined with events in the Middle East. Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy will represent the UK at the UN General Assembly, alongside Cooper and Energy Secretary Ed Miliband. Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey criticized Prime Minister Keir Starmer for not attending the summit, arguing that Britain should be at the forefront of its historic recognition of Palestinian statehood rather than remaining absent from that moment.

The pair’s appearance at the UN occurred against a backdrop of intense domestic debate triggered by Starmer’s Sunday announcement recognizing a Palestinian state, a move that drew swift condemnation from Israeli officials and some British supporters of Israel. Critics accused Starmer of appeasing allies in Washington and sparking political backlash at home, while supporters argued the decision signaled a principled stance on international borders and human rights. In the wake of Starmer’s maneuver, some Israelis and Britons described the ruling as hypocritical, noting that it followed a period of increasingly hardline rhetoric from Netanyahu’s government.

Tensions extended beyond Europe. A Hamas official reportedly hailed the UN addresses as a victory for the cause, while some American voices, including those in the Trump administration, framed the UK decision as unhelpful to hostage negotiations and to efforts to end the conflict. Families of hostages expressed dismay, with some calling the recognition a betrayal of humanity and a reward to Hamas given that 48 hostages remain in captivity.

The UN appearance also featured domestic political noise. Critics pointed to Starmer’s absence during a moment considered pivotal by many international observers, arguing that a prime minister should be present for a historic shift in the Middle East landscape. The PM faced further scrutiny over a social-media post that some described as tone-deaf during Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, while Hamas celebrated the recognition of a Palestinian state as a milestone for its broader political objectives.

As the international community grapples with the Gaza crisis and the precarious future of a Palestinian state, Cooper’s remarks underscore a growing divergence among Western allies over how to balance security concerns with humanitarian imperatives and a viable political horizon. The coming weeks will likely test the resilience of Britain’s diplomatic line as it seeks to navigate pressure from allies who oppose unconditional Palestinian statehood and those who argue for a negotiated, two-state framework with robust safeguards for Israeli security and Palestinian self-determination.

Ultimately, the UN exchange highlighted the widening gulf between some Western capitals and Netanyahu’s government on Gaza strategy, humanitarian access, and the path to a sustainable peace. In the midst of this, the UK’s recognition of a Palestinian state remains a contentious touchstone, shaping debates at home and abroad as the international community debates a way forward amid ongoing hostilities and hostage crises.