No10 and the foreign secretary appeared to lose patience with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over what David Lammy described as the “intolerable” actions in Gaza.
In announcing it was suspending negotiations for a trade deal with Israel, No10’s spokesman appeared to single out Netanyahu for criticism, rather than Israel, saying ” it is “not possible to advance discussions on a deeper trading relationship with a Netanyahu government that is pursuing policies which are damaging to the wider region and to its own citizens”.
Lammy also said negotiations on a new trade deal with Israel would be suspended and announced new sanctions aimed at settlers violence in the West Bank.
Using the strongest language yet of any UK government minister he told MPs Israel was guilty of “monstrous” actions in Gaza which were “morally unjustifiable [and] wholly disproportionate”.
He told the House of Commons: “We are now entering a dark new phase in this conflict. Netanyahu’s government is planning to drive Gazans from their homes into a corner of the Strip to the south and permit them a fraction of the aid that they need.
“Yesterday, Minister Smotrich even spoke of Israeli forces ‘“’cleansing’”’ Gaza, ‘“’destroying what’s lef’t”’, of resident Palestinians “being relocated to third countries”.
“We must call this what it is. It is extremism. It is dangerous. It is repellent. It is monstrous. And I condemn it in the strongest possible terms.”
Sir Keir Starmer said the risk of starvation due to the restriction of aid and supplies, and the bombardment of children through ongoing military expansion, were “intolerable and unacceptable”.
Smoke rises after an Israeli attack on Tuffah neighborhood in Gaza City, Gaza. (Photo by Mahmoud Issa/Anadolu via Getty Images)Israel has launched another major offensive in the territory and permitted just a tiny number of aid trucks into Gaza after cutting off all food, medicine and other supplies for three months.
On Monday, Starmer issued a joint statement with the leaders of Canda and France warning Israel was at risk of breaching international law.
And European Union’s lead diplomat, Kaja Kallas, also announced there would also be a review of the EU’s trade agreement with Israel.
But Starmer was urged to go further by MPs who demanded recognition of the state of Palestine and a ban on all arms exports to Israel.
Lammy hinted the government was prepared to do more – telling MPs “further action could be taken if we do not see this further expansion and this restriction of aid come to an end”.
The Labour government already suspended around 30 of the 350 export licences to Israel because there was a “clear risk” they “might be used” to breach international law.
Foreign Office sources said it had banned export items that could be used in serious violation of international humanitarian law and the government said it provided less than 1 per cent of Israel’s defence imports.
But ministers are under pressure over the continued sale of components for F-35 jets into a global supply pool, which can end up used by Israel’s military.
Announcing a suspension of trade negotiations with Israel, and a review of co-operation in other areas, Lammy said: “The Netanyahu government’s actions have made this necessary.”
He accused his government of “isolating Israel from its friends and partners around the world”.
Lammy wants ‘strong friendship with Israel’
It is the strongest condemnation of Israel from the UK since the start of the conflict with Hamas and a significant shift from the start of the conflict when Labour faced a barrage of resignations over its support for Israel.
But Lammy aimed his rhetoric directly at the Netanyahu administration – saying he wanted a “strong friendship” with the Israeli people based on “shared values”.
Israel suffered a “heinous attack” at the hands of Hamas in 2023 and the UK supported the nation’s right to self-defence, he added.
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But the ongoing bombardment of Gaza, and blocking of food and aid from entering, is “morally unjustifiable, it’s wholly disproportionate, it’s utterly, utterly counterproductive,” Lammy went on, and not the way to bring the remaining Israeli hostages home.
He addressed PM Netanyahu directly as he urged him to “end this blockade now and let the aid in” – saying there were 9,000 lorries at the border waiting to deliver crucial supplies.
“Two months ago the ceasefire collapsed. Since then the humanitarian catastrophe has rapidly intensified,” Lammy said.
Some MPs heckled the foreign secretary as he made a Commons statement, urging him to refer to Israel’s actions in Gaza as “genocide”.
In response to Monday’s joint statement Netanyahu accused Britain of “Offering a huge prize for the genocidal attack on Israel on October 7 while inviting more such atrocities.”
And in response to suspending trade talks Israeli foreign ministry spokesperson Oren Marmorstein said: “If, due to anti-Israel obsession and domestic political considerations, the British government is willing to harm the British economy – that is its own prerogative.”
He added: “External pressure will not divert Israel from its path in defending its existence and security against enemies who seek its destruction.”
The No10 spokesman said that it was for the courts to decide whether genocide had been committed in Gaza.
Labour MPs Yasmin Qureshi and Afzal Khan were among several calling for a “full arms embargo” – as well as an investigation into war crimes.
Lammy also came under pressure to hold a free vote on the recognition of Palestine.
Conservative MP Martin Vickers said a free vote in the Commons would lead to “overwhelming support” for doing so.
On the recognition of a Palestinian state, Downing Street said: “We have been clear that the UK will never give up on the two-state solution, with a Palestinian state and Israel living side-by-side in peace dignity and security.”
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