Donald Trump calls recognition of Palestinian statehood a ‘reward’ for Hamas

OTTAWA — U.S. President Donald Trump slammed allied nations for unilaterally recognizing Palestinian statehood — which he said is a “reward” for Hamas terrorists — during a lengthy speech at the United Nations General Assembly on Tuesday.

While Trump did not call out specific countries, like Canada which made its formal announcement ahead of the summit in New York, he accused member states of seemingly encouraging “continued conflict” in the region by giving into Hamas’ demands.

“The rewards would be too great for Hamas terrorists for their atrocities. This would be a reward for these horrible atrocities, including October 7, even while they refused to release the hostages or accept a ceasefire,” Trump said in a more than 50-minute speech.

“Instead of giving in to Hamas’ ransom demands, those who want peace should be united with one message: release the hostages now,” he added.

Nearly two years after Hamas’ terrorist attacks against Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, it is believed that 48 men and women are still held hostage in the Gaza Strip. Of that number, Israel believes that 20 of them may still be alive along with the bodies of 30 others.

Trump called on all member states to “come together” to stop the war in Gaza, negotiate lasting peace and get the remaining hostages back — whether they are alive or dead.

“We have to get them back now. We don’t want to get back two, then another two, and then one and then three… No, we want them all back. And we want the… dead bodies back too. Those parents came to me, and they want them back… as though they were alive.”

Trump said he has always claimed “the last 20 (hostages) were going to be the hardest (to bring back home), and that’s exactly what happened.”

Prime Minister Mark Carney has consistently said it is “imperative” for Hamas to release all hostages, and that the terrorist group can play no role in the future governance of the Palestinian state — even though it has been nearly 20 years since there has been an election.

At the same time, Carney has chastised Israel for preventing “the prospect of a Palestinian state from ever being established” and of pursuing “an unrelenting policy of settlement expansion in the West Bank, which is illegal under international law.”

The decisions of Canada, along with the United Kingdom, France, Australia and others, to recognize Palestinian statehood bring to 156 the number of countries that have done so.

That happened despite a recent letter from a group of U.S. Republicans threatening those countries of “punitive measures” if they did not reconsider their decision to recognize Palestinian statehood which would put them at odds with longstanding U.S. foreign policy.

“This is a reckless policy that undermines prospects for peace,” they wrote in a letter sent on Sept. 19. “It sets the dangerous precedent that violence, not diplomacy, is the most expedient means for terrorist groups like Hamas to achieve their political aims.”

Speaking at an event in New York on Monday, Carney admitted that his government’s goal in recognizing Palestinian statehood is to keep the topic “front and centre” at the United Nations General Assembly with a host of “influential but not decisive countries.”

“We’re under no illusions that this is any sort of panacea, but it’s necessary, in our judgment, and the judgment of most other countries in the world, that we have to push on this now,” he said during a fireside chat with the Council on Foreign Relations.

“So, we’re doing what we can, but recognizing limitations.”

Later that day, Carney said that Canada is acting as part of a “coordinated international effort to preserve the possibility of a two-state solution.” He made those remarks at a conference, organized by France and Saudi Arabia, in support of the two-state solution.

“Recognizing the State of Palestine, led by the Palestinian Authority, empowers those who seek peaceful coexistence and the end of Hamas,” he said.

“This in no way legitimizes terrorism, nor is it any reward for it.”

Meanwhile, back home, Conservatives offered even harsher words to the Liberal government for their decision to recognize Palestinian statehood.

“Doing this on the eve of Rosh Hashanah (Jewish New Year), emboldening mobs and violence upon our Jewish communities, is evil,” said Conservative MP Shuvaloy Majumdar in the House of Commons. “This is not diplomacy. It is appeasement. It is betrayal.”

“The Prime Minister has dispensed with human dignity and the rule of law. He has emboldened terror with the state. It is evil,” he added.

Carney was set to hold a press conference Tuesday evening, before attending a reception held by Trump in New York.

National Post calevesque@postmedia.com

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