Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu attacked Mr Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron and Canada’s PM Mark Carney after two Israeli embassy staff were shot dead in Washington DC
A UK minister has hit back against Benjamin Netanyahu’s comments that Keir Starmer is on the “wrong side of history”.
Armed forces minister Luke Pollard said he disagreed with the Israeli PM and said the UK was trying to bring about peace in Gaza. It comes after the UK hit out out Israel’s “monstrous” actions in the Strip, where thousands of innocents face starvation.
Mr Netanyahu attacked Mr Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron and Canada’s PM Mark Carney after two Israeli embassy staff were shot dead in Washington DC. He claimed the three leaders were “emboldening Hamas to continue fighting forever”.
Speaking on LBC on Friday morning, Mr Pollard said: “Well, I don’t agree with those comments. We condemn in the fullest possible terms the murder of the Israeli diplomats in the United States. That is completely unacceptable.
“But the argument that we have been making about how we bring peace to Israel and to the Palestinians is with a restoration of the immediate ceasefire, with Hamas releasing the hostages without any further delay, and for massive amounts of aid to get into Gaza to give the Palestinians the food, water and medical support that they need.
READ MORE: UK warns Israel ‘end Gaza blockade now’ as David Lammy condemns ‘monstrous’ actions
“Now that’s an argument we’ve been making consistently, publicly, but also privately. We’re going to continue doing that, because what we’re seeing the humanitarian situation in Gaza, is unacceptable. I think everyone will be able to see that that’s unacceptable.
“Now we oppose Hamas. We oppose the awful atrocities they committed on the seventh of October, and that is the reason why we want to see peace. The only way to achieve that two state solution that is good for Israelis and Palestinians alike is a restoration of the ceasefire, the hostage released and aid delivered to the people who really need it.”
The UK on Tuesday suspended trade talks with Israel and hauled in the country’s ambassador over its actions in Gaza. Foreign Secretary David Lammy said the conflict is entering a “dark new phase” as Israel’s military mounts a renewed ground offensive following a barrage of deadly air attacks.
He said the threat of starvation is hanging over hundreds of thousands of Palestinian civilians due to the “indefensible and cruel” blockade on humanitarian aid. It marked a significant hardening of the UK’s position as global condemnation mounts over Israel’s actions.
In a joint statement, Mr Starmer, Mr Macron and Mr Carney condemned the Israeli government’s “egregious” actions in Gaza, warning the UK and allies will take “concrete actions” unless Mr Netanyahu changes course.
In a post on X on Thursday evening, after the killing of two Israeli embassy staff in the US, the Israeli prime minister said Hamas wants to “destroy the Jewish state” and “annihilate the Jewish people”.
He said: “I could never understand how this simple truth evades the leaders of France, Britain, Canada and others. I say to President Macron, Prime Minister Carney and Prime Minister Starmer, when mass murderers, rapists, baby killers and kidnappers thank you, you’re on the wrong side of justice.
“Because by issuing their demand – replete with a threat of sanctions against Israel, against Israel, not Hamas – these three leaders effectively said they want Hamas to remain in power.”
Mr Netanyahu said the actions of the leaders were not “advancing peace”, but “emboldening Hamas to continue fighting forever”.
The murdered Israeli embassy staff, a man and a woman, were leaving an event at the Capital Jewish Museum in DC when the 31-year-old suspect approached. Israel’s foreign minister identified the victims as Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Milgrim.
The attack has sent shockwaves around the world and prompted Israeli missions to beef up security.
Elias Rodriguez, 31, told police after his arrest, “I did it for Palestine, I did it for Gaza,” federal authorities said on Thursday, as they announced criminal charges.
Mr Starmer has described the shooting as “antisemitic”. He said: “I thoroughly condemn the antisemitic attack outside the Israeli embassy in Washington DC.
“Antisemitism is an evil we must stamp out wherever it appears. My thoughts are with their colleagues, family and loved ones, and as always, I stand in solidarity with the Jewish community.”
Downing Street said the Prime Minister “stands in solidarity with the Jewish community here in the UK”, adding the Government has offered its “full support to the Israeli embassy in London”.
The Prime Minister’s official spokesman added: “As you know, we continue to provide around £18million a year in funding for protective security measures for Jewish community sites in the UK.”
The Government’s approach towards Israel’s actions in Gaza will not change as a result of the killings, the spokesman indicated, but he said this “does not take away at all from the fact that antisemitism is an evil that must be stamped out wherever it appears”.
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