Hamas is the De Facto Government in Gaza

Two things:

HAMAS, in its entirety, has been proscribed by the UK as a terrorist group so it's an offence to support it.

... and the last legislative elections were held in 2006 (or maybe 2007?) - so can you say they are representative now?

The logic flaws in the OP's arguments leave me boggling. What you are saying is if an undemocratic terrorist group takes over any place then you negotiate with them, even though they may be totally unrepresented of the people living in their territory.

On that basis we should be negotiating with Putin over the future of Ukraine and at one point we would have come close to negotiating with either the IRA or UDP over the future of Northern Ireland.

This idea is every terrorist group and dictators dearest wish.

I am certainly not wondering why our PM does not do so

Caleo

Hamas is the de facto government of Gaza and as such shouls be legally recognised by foreign states, so that Hamas may enter into peace discussions .

Our Prime Minister should recognise Hamas asap and one wonders why he does not do so.

Hamas is the only representative government despite all its faults. Diplomatic discussion is the only way forward I can see that gets the Gaza people the food and water they need if they are to survive.

I mean, how else?

M0nica

The logic flaws in the OP's arguments leave me boggling. What you are saying is if an undemocratic terrorist group takes over any place then you negotiate with them, even though they may be totally unrepresented of the people living in their territory.

On that basis we should be negotiating with Putin over the future of Ukraine and at one point we would have come close to negotiating with either the IRA or UDP over the future of Northern Ireland.

This idea is every terrorist group and dictators dearest wish.

I am afraid that is the actual situation in Gaza. Hamas is all there is so we should use what there is for want of better.

MOnica, I understand your POV. Nobody want to set a precedent for terrorists to be legitimised.

Do you not think that the urgency of the situation in Gaza justifies taking this risk?

ISIS set themselves up in Raqqa as the De facto government for the areas under their control, such groups, usually immersed in terror set up quasi administrations of sorts but it doesn't make those legally right, so why would any democratic government recognise them.?

Jings, I thought there were negotiations with Putin to attempt a cease fire with Ukraine? Not with us, we are minor league, but through the auspices of Trump's administration.

The situation is that Hamas have been negotiating for a peace deal and release of hostages. Hamas is the only government in Gaza and something has to be done for the people of Gaza.
Israel and the US have walked away from the talks saying Hamas is selfish wanting a full ceasefire.

Which organisations were involved in the Good Friday Agreement? Thought the IRA was one of them.

Despite all it's faults? I don't know how to respond to this.

The new Leader in Syria was once a member of a terror organisation. I suppose they all had to be, to survive.
David Lammy was photographed, officially of course, shaking his hand.
This is that ghastly thing 'political expediency'.

Yeah it is going well in Syria isn't it.

So, there have beeen, unfortunately, examples in the past when terrorists have been at negotiating tables.

Of course it isn't. And to make thing even 'better' Israel is now in the mix.

Yes, it sticks in the craw to acknowledge them as anything but the vile beings they are, but look at history current, recent and past.

Keir Starmer can’t recognise Hamas or any other organisation/government. He doesn’t have the authority to act on his own.

Recognition of a Palestinian state is in no way the same as recognising and thereby giving approval to an oppressive military regime which persecutes women and children as part of its belief system

I don’t believe recognising Hamas as the Government of Palestine would lead to any improvement in the lives of women and children. Quite the opposite.

Nor do I believe that it would facilitate a peace process. Neither Hamas nor Israel want peace.

After recognising Hamas as a government how would you bring them to the negotiating table! How would you end their persecution of women and children?

Or would you accept or even believe that a recognised government can do as it likes with its most vulnerable citizens?

Think you have hit the mark, Lathyrus3, neither Hamas not Israel want peace,
I would go further, and say neither give a flying fig about the people of Palestine.

Just as a point of information, does anyone know of a State/Country that acknowledges Hamas?

Hamas may be the only ‘government’ in Gaza but I didn’t think they were negotiating for peace, only pronouncing their terms for the release of the hostages. They are extremists with little or no interest in preserving life.

My naive question is why cannot the UN commission planes to drop food supplies into Gaza? There must be reasons or it would have been done, but are the reasons strong enough?

Maremia Fri 25-Jul-25 14:59:13
Think you have hit the mark, Lathyrus3, neither Hamas not Israel want peace,
I would go further, and say neither give a flying fig about the people of Palestine.

Hamas is government of Gaza , Hamas didn’t give a flying fig
about the people of Israel in their terrorists attacks on Israel 7th October 2023

Haud the bus, Annieb, I actually agree with you.

Just for the record, Margaret Thatcher's government negotiated with the Provisional IRA and so did Tony Blair. The negotiations to agree the Oslo accords included Yasser Arafat who was widely accepted as being a terrorist. Several of Israel's Prime Ministers have been terrorists wanted for murder by the UK government. Terrorist groups are often the key to gaining a more lasting peace. You may not like it but history tells a different story.

Good luck. I am sure it will work out.