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Lammy’s condemnation of Israeli actions in Gaza ‘strongest yet’
I think these are the strongest words yet about the situation in Gaza uttered by any cabinet minister inside the House of Commons since October 7, 2023.
David Lammy, the foreign secretary, delivered his statement followed by a deeply, deeply engaged debate that is still ongoing. It has been running for nearly an hour now.
Lammy’s strong words are that the events in Gaza are “dangerous”, “repellent”, “monstrous”. He went on to say, “It is morally unjustifiable. It is disproportionate and utterly, utterly counterproductive.”
The government also says it is suspending with immediate effect trade negotiations with Israel. More sanctions are also coming into place against settlers in the West Bank. And the Israeli ambassador has been summoned to the Foreign Office to be addressed about the British position.
There is a sense these strong words and sanctions are welcome, but it is not going to be enough. And the government is very much talking about more action being prepared to come.
Many MPs have been calling for stronger action by the government for a long time. They were promised on Monday that action would come if the Israelis did not change course in Gaza.
UK Jewish group welcomes government steps against Israel
We have a statement by Yachad UK about the measures announced by the British government today.
The British Jewish organisation said the steps are the inevitable result of the Israeli government’s “appalling statements” and its “decision to continue to prosecute the war in Gaza in a manner that is totally unjustifiable”.
“We fully support the UK government’s announcement this afternoon to take significant action, including the suspension of negotiations on the UK-Israel Free Trade Agreement,” added the group, which has frequently criticised Israel’s actions in Gaza and the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem.
Israel’s war on Gaza has prompted debate and a variety of responses from Jewish communities around the world.
Yachad UK said: “Our community does not speak with one voice, and we represent the voices of many thousands of British Jews and Israelis who are deeply troubled by the humanitarian situation on the ground in Gaza, the abandonment of the hostages, calls to ethnically cleanse the people of Gaza and the violence being waged by settlers towards Palestinians in the West Bank.”
