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LONDON: The UK will be taking “a courageous step at a very difficult time” by officially recognizing a Palestinian state, the Palestinian Authority’s foreign minister has said, predicting the move will inspire other countries to follow suit.

that the UK’s expected announcement in the coming days was “better late than never.”

She added: “Britain, with its weight, can influence other countries to come forward and recognise, because that is the right thing to do.”

The UK, alongside France, Canada and Australia, is preparing to formally recognize the State of Palestine at the United Nations.

Aghabekian said the move should be seen as upholding international law and supporting the rights of both Israelis and Palestinians.

“Britain has been supporting the existence and flourishing of Israel for some time,” she said. “But today Britain is looking at the matter objectively — in terms of people’s rights, in terms of complying with international law, and in terms of the future of this area.”

She dismissed claims that recognition rewards Hamas terrorism, arguing that withholding recognition would only “reward extremists.”

She added: “If we wait until Israel decides it wants to go into negotiations with the Palestinians, then it won’t happen.” Aghabekian also said she expected Gaza to eventually return to Palestinian governance.

Three-quarters of UN member states already recognize Palestine, which comprises the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and the Gaza Strip — collectively known as the Occupied Palestinian Territories.

The West Bank has been under Israeli occupation since 1967, while Gaza has endured repeated bombardment since Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023, attacks on Israel, which killed nearly 1,200 people and saw around 250 taken hostage. Since then, more than 65,000 people have been killed in Gaza, according to Palestinian figures, while 48 hostages remain in captivity, 20 of whom are believed to be alive.

Aghabekian confirmed that Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas has provided assurances to world leaders that Hamas will not be part of Gaza’s governance.

But she cautioned against talk of eliminating the group entirely.

“Hamas is an ideology, not a building that you bring down,” she said. “Those who support Hamas need to see a future … that there might be a state in which their children and grandchildren might prosper. What people see today is darkness and destruction, violation of rights, helplessness and hopelessness. People need to see progress, and once that happens, the mood will shift.”

AMSTERDAM: Dutch police used tear gas and a water cannon to disperse violent anti-migration protesters in The Hague on Saturday, a spokesperson for local government said.
Thousands of people had joined a protest organized by a rightwing activist in demand of stricter migration policies and a clampdown on asylum seekers, just over a month before a national election.
Large groups of protesters, many waving Dutch flags and flags associated with far-right groups, clashed violently with the police, throwing rocks and bottles, footage from broadcaster NOS showed.
A police car was set on fire and a group of protesters briefly blocked a highway near the site of the demonstration.
Local media reported that protesters also smashed several windows at the headquarters of the center-left D66 party, viewed by many on the far right as a party that serves a progressive elite.
Anti-migration populist Geert Wilders, who won the previous election in the Netherlands and in recent weeks retained his lead in opinion polls ahead of the October 29 vote, was invited to speak at the demonstration but did not attend.
Instead he condemned the violence on X, saying the use of force against police was “utterly unacceptable,” and calling those involved “idiots.”