“Britain and Israel are friends, but among friends there are sometimes disagreements,” Herzog said after the meeting. “I made clear that the United Kingdom’s stated intention to recognise a Palestinian state at this time would in no way help bring the hostages home, help the Palestinians, or help bring an end to the conflict. Instead it would embolden extremists across the Middle East and beyond.”

Herzog also voiced strong opposition to potential sanctions against Israel and criticized what he called the “dangerous echoing of Hamas’s propaganda campaign of starvation in Gaza, even while 48 hostages remain in brutal captivity.” He added, “I stressed, too, that Israel’s struggle against the Iranian empire of evil and its terror proxies is the shared struggle of the free world, including Great Britain. Above all, I underlined that the immediate and unconditional release of the hostages is both a humanitarian necessity and the only first step on the road to peace.”

The meeting included a private discussion between the two leaders followed by broader bilateral talks. It comes amid growing tensions between Israel and the UK, after British officials said they intend to join France, Canada, and other nations in recognizing a Palestinian state.

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