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Sir Keir Starmer is set to meet with Israeli President Isaac Herzog in Downing Street on Wednesday, according to No 10. During the meeting, Sir Keir will discuss the “intolerable situation in Gaza” and the necessary actions that Israel must take to alleviate the suffering witnessed in the region. This comes following Israel’s strike on senior Hamas leaders in Doha, Qatar, as well as warnings issued to residents of Gaza City to evacuate in anticipation of a significant ground offensive.
A group of sixty MPs and peers from parties including Labour, the Greens, and the SNP have called on the UK government to block Herzog’s entry into the country, citing concerns of potential complicity in genocide in Gaza under a UN treaty. Meanwhile, Israel has stated its goal of dismantling the Palestinian group Hamas and recovering hostages they hold, vehemently denying accusations of genocide. These allegations are under investigation by the International Court of Justice.
Although Isaac Herzog does not hold executive powers, his office has clarified that the purpose of his visit to the UK is to express solidarity with the Jewish community amid rising attacks and incidents of antisemitism. Health Secretary Wes Streeting has urged Herzog to address the accusations levied against the Israeli government for their actions in Gaza, highlighting concerns of war crimes, ethnic cleansing, and genocide. Downing Street has reiterated Sir Keir’s concerns over the suffering in Gaza but did not echo Streeting’s calls for Herzog to respond to the claims of war crimes and ethnic cleansing.
In a separate development, Amnesty International has called on Sir Keir Starmer not to offer diplomatic support to a state accused of genocide during his meeting with Herzog. The Green Party leader, Zack Polanski, went further by advocating for Herzog’s arrest upon arrival in the UK, alleging his involvement in an ongoing genocide as part of the Israeli government. The recent hosting of Palestinian Authority president Mahmoud Abbas by Sir Keir in Downing Street signaled a commitment to recognizing a Palestinian state if Israel does not change its current trajectory, ahead of the UN General Assembly meeting
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