The delicate politics behind the UK’s move on Palestine

Sir Keir Starmer is familiar with Emily Damari’s ordeal.

Over the 15 months that she was held hostage in Gaza, the prime minister mentioned her several times when talking about the war, including describing phone calls he held with her British mother Mandy when she did not know whether Emily was still alive.

So it will no doubt feel unpleasant, to say the least, for the prime minister to find himself on the receiving end of sharp criticism from Emily today.

Responding to Sir Keir’s announcement that he was willing to recognise a Palestinian state in September, Ms Damari accused him of “moral failure”.

She said he risked “rewarding terror” and “prolonging the conflict”.

Her intervention echoed a statement from representatives of 10…