FM Sa’ar speaks with UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper

Minister of Foreign Affairs Gideon Sa’ar spoke today (Saturday, 18 october 2025) with the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs of the United Kingdom, Yvette Cooper.

FM Sa’ar:

“Spoke with UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper.

We discussed the Trump Plan, its implementation and the situation in Gaza.

I raised the issue of the dead hostages and Hamas’s violation of the agreement in this regard.

I also described Hamas’s efforts to consolidate its control over Gaza, as well as its mass and public executions without trial.

I also raised the need to take practical measures against the use of the slogan ‘From the river to the sea – Palestine will be free’ in public spaces in the UK. This follows PM Starmer’s statement last week that the phrase constitutes an antisemitic expression. I added that the slogan is, in fact, a call for the elimination of Israel. A line must be drawn between freedom of expression and hate speech. I said that PM Starmer’s remarks should be part of a historic turning point in the UK’s fight against antisemitism. I added that legislation is needed to enforce a ban on the use of this slogan, as several federal states in Germany have already done.

We also discussed the outrageous ban imposed by Birmingham police preventing Maccabi Tel Aviv fans from attending the Europe League match against Aston Villa at Villa Park on November 6th. I expressed our clear and unequivocal expectation that this disgraceful decision be revoked and that Maccabi Tel Aviv fans be allowed to attend the game. The Foreign Secretary expressed the British government’s reservation about the decision and said that staff work, involving the Home Secretary and the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport would resume on Monday to find an appropriate solution.”