The UK government has concluded that Israel is not committing genocide in Gaza but “must do much more” to prevent and alleviate the suffering.
Britain’s position was clarified by David Lammy, as foreign secretary until a few days ago, in response to questions from the chair of the International Development Committee, Sarah Champion.
In a letter, dated 1 September, he wrote that “the crime of genocide occurs only where there is specific ‘intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnic, racial or religious group.’
“The government has not concluded that Israel is acting with that intent.”
Previously, the government’s position had been that it was for an international court to decide if Israel was committing genocide.
Israel has strongly denied that its actions in Gaza amount to genocide, but is being challenged on the issue in a case at the International Court of Justice in The Hague.
Mr Lammy, who was replaced by Yvette Cooper as foreign secretary during Sir Keir Starmer’s recent reshuffle, also criticised the “catastrophic humanitarian situation” in the region.
Lammy: Destruction is ‘utterly appalling’
“The high civilian casualties, including women and children, and the extensive destruction in Gaza, are utterly appalling,” he wrote.
“Israel must do much more to prevent and alleviate the suffering that this conflict is causing.”
Israel struck and destroyed another high-rise building in Gaza City on Monday after warning residents to evacuate.
The military said it was targeting Hamas observation posts and bombs placed around the 12-story office building.
On Monday, a flotilla aiming to transport humanitarian aid to Gaza claimed one of its boats was struck by a drone on Tuesday in Tunisian waters, suffering fire damage.
None of the passengers or crew on the Portuguese-flagged vessel were hurt, the Global Sumud Flotilla (GSF) said in a statement.
But a spokesperson for Tunisia’s National Guard rejected GSF’s reports of a drone strike and told Mosaique FM radio that an initial inspection indicated the explosion originated inside the vessel.
Israel has imposed a naval blockade on the coastal enclave since Hamas took control of Gaza in 2007, saying it aims to stop weapons from reaching the militant group.
Israeli weapons ban ‘antisemitic’
Meanwhile, Spain has banned ships and aircraft carrying weapons to Israel from calling at Spanish ports or entering its airspace, because of Israel’s military offensive in Gaza.
The measures were described as antisemitic by Israeli foreign minister, Gideon Saar.
Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez’s government also said it would not allow anyone who has participated directly in “genocide” in Gaza to enter Spain.
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Deadly bus stop shooting
Israel suffered its deadliest shooting since October 2024 on Monday, when gunmen opened fire at a bus stop in Jerusalem, killing six people and wounding another 12.
An Israeli soldier and civilians who were at the scene shot and killed the two attackers, said police, who later arrested a third person.
Israel’s Shin Bet internal security agency said the two attackers, aged 20 and 21, were Palestinians from the West Bank with no prior arrests.
The militant group Hamas did not say it was behind the attack but called it a “natural response to the occupation’s crimes against our people”.
Starmer holds talks with Abbas
President Mahmoud Abbas, head of the Palestinian Authority (PA), condemned “any targeting of Palestinian and Israeli civilians” and “denounced all forms of violence and terrorism, regardless of their source,” according to a statement from his office.
Mr Abbas visited Downing Street on Monday evening for discussions with Sir Keir Starmer.
Following the talks, the prime minister’s spokesperson said they spoke about “the intolerable situation in Gaza” and how to secure “enduring peace and stability for both Palestinians and Israelis”.
“The president welcomed the prime minister’s pledge to recognising (sic) a Palestinian state ahead of the UN General Assembly meeting later this month, unless Israel changes its course,” the statement added.
Isaac Herzog, the president of Israel, is also set for meetings with the UK government in the next few days.
