UK: Hamas Must Be Excluded From Gaza's Future Governance

The United Kingdom has stated that Hamas must not be involved in the future administration of the Gaza Strip. British Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband emphasized Israel's right to security and to live free from constant threats, while also asserting that this right does not justify the current situation in Gaza. He described the consequences of military actions for the civilian population as catastrophic, citing approximately 70,000 deaths, including around 20,000 children.

London believes that any future arrangement for Gaza must exclude Hamas and that the disarmament of the group is a key condition for a settlement. This stance comes as the British government is expected to announce a ban on trade with goods produced in Israeli settlements and impose sanctions on companies involved in construction in these territories.

Israeli President Isaac Herzog strongly criticized these potential measures, calling them a grave mistake and a misjudgment of history. He urged foreign governments to abandon boycotts and sanctions, viewing them as interference in Israel's internal democratic processes. Herzog made these remarks during an event marking 30 years of Israel's participation in the European research program Horizon Europe.