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United Kingdom and the Israel–Hamas war

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Rishi Sunak with the Prime Minister of Israel Benjamin Netanyahu in March 2023

Following the 2023 Hamas-led attack on Israel and outbreak of the Israel–Hamas war, UK Prime Minister RIshi Sunak pledged the UK's support for Israel and declared that Israel "has an absolute right to defend itself", but later condemned the high number of civilian casualties during the Israeli bombardment of the Gaza Strip and called for a "sustainable ceasefire".

Rishi Sunak's views

In the aftermath of the 2023 Hamas-led attack on Israel, Sunak pledged the United Kingdom's support for Israel and declared that Israel "has an absolute right to defend itself".[1] Sunak backed calls for humanitarian pauses to allow for aid to be brought into Gaza during the Gaza conflict, although he initially rejected calls for a full ceasefire as he argued that this would only benefit Hamas.[2] However, Sunak later condemned the high number of civilian casualties during the Israeli bombardment of Gaza and called for a "sustainable ceasefire" in which all Israeli hostages are returned to Israel, attacks against Israel cease and humanitarian aid is allowed into Gaza.[3] His government supports the two-state solution as a resolution to the conflict.[4][5]

Since the outbreak of the war, Sunak's government has pledged millions of pounds in humanitarian aid to civilians in the Gaza strip[6] and pushed for the opening of the Rafah Border Crossing to allow for the evacuation of British nationals and the provision of aid to civilians.[7] Sunak also deployed Royal Navy and Royal Air Force assets to patrol the eastern Mediterranean Sea with the stated purpose of supporting humanitarian efforts and monitoring threats to regional security.[8] Sunak's administration has implemented sanctions against leading figures in Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad, including Hamas co-founder Mahmoud al-Zahar,[9] as well as imposing travel bans against Israeli settlers involved in violent activities in the West Bank.[10]

Sunak reaffirmed his support for humanitarian pauses and an eventual ceasefire in the war in Gaza ahead of a debate on the subject on 21 February, but argued that an immediate ceasefire would not be successful and would not be in anyone's interest.[11] The following day, the Scottish National Party tabled an opposition day amendment calling for an immediate ceasefire. Sunak's government tabled an amendment supporting an eventual ceasefire while emphasizing its support for Israel's right to self-defence and opposition to Hamas.[12] However, in a break with Parliamentary convention, Speaker of the House Lindsay Hoyle chose to select a non-binding Labour Party amendment calling for an immediate ceasefire to be voted on first, which led to the government withdrawing its amendment and the Labour amendment being passed without a vote taking place.[13][14] Amidst the ensuing controversy, Sunak described Hoyle's actions as "very concerning" but did not support calls from within the Conservative Party for the Speaker to be ousted.[15]

The British government continued its policy of providing humanitarian aid to civilians in Gaza. On 21 February, the U.K. delivered aid to northern Gaza, inaccessible by land or sea, for the first time via air-drops by the Jordanian air force, having reached an arrangement with Jordan to deliver aid into Gaza on the U.K.'s behalf.[16] On 25 February the government pledged a further £4.25 million in sexual and reproductive aid to Palestinian women, projected to reach around 1 in 5 women in Gaza.[17]

When the International Criminal Court prosecutor Karim Ahmad Khan announced that he would seek to charge Israeli president Benjamin Netanyahu with war crimes, Sunak denounced the move as "unhelpful" and accused Khan of drawing a moral equivalence between Israel and Hamas.[18]

Keir Starmer's views

After the Hamas-led attack on Israel on 7 October 2023, which began the Israel–Hamas war, Starmer expressed support for Israel, condemned Hamas terrorism, and said, "This action by Hamas does nothing for Palestinians. And Israel must always have the right to defend her people."[19][20] In an interview with LBC on 11 October 2023, Starmer was asked whether it would be appropriate for Israel to totally cut off power and water supplies to the Gaza Strip, with Starmer replying that "I think that Israel does have that right" and that "obviously everything should be done within international law".[21][22] On 20 October, after criticism and resignations of Labour councillors, Starmer said that he only meant that Israel had the right to defend itself.[22][23] Starmer had said that a ceasefire would only benefit Hamas for future attacks, instead calling for a humanitarian pause to allow aid to reach Gaza.[24] As of 6 November 2023, 50 of Labour's councillors had resigned over the issue.[25]

On 16 November 2023, Starmer suffered a major rebellion when 56 of his MPs (including ten frontbenchers) defied a three-line whip in voting for a Scottish National Party (SNP) motion proposed by Stephen Flynn to support an immediate ceasefire in Gaza.[26][27] Prior to the vote, Starmer stated that Labour MPs with positions in his Shadow Cabinet would be sacked if they voted in favour of the ceasefire vote.[26] This then led to the loss of ten frontbenchers, including eight shadow ministers.[26] In December 2023, Starmer followed Sunak in changing his stance by calling for a "sustainable ceasefire" in relation to Gaza, which also came after the Foreign Secretary David Cameron's same change in position. Starmer stated his support for a "two-stage" "two-state solution".[28][29][30] The Labour Party under Starmer suspended several parliamentary candidates and MPs, including Graham Jones, Andy McDonald, Azhar Ali and Kate Osamor, for allegedly making anti-Semitic comments about Israel during the Israel-Hamas war, or for describing its conduct as genocide.[31][32] On 18 February 2024, Starmer called for a "ceasefire that lasts" and said it must "happen now", having previously refused to call for a ceasefire.[33][34][35]

Protests

Main article: Israel–Hamas war protests in the United Kingdom
Pro-Palestine demonstration in Edinburgh, 2 December

UK Home Secretary Suella Braverman urged police to consider the use of Palestinian flags and some associated chants or symbols with the Palestinian cause (such as "from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free") in certain circumstances as a "racially aggravated" offence that should face legal consequences under Section 5 of the Public Order Act 1986.[36] Braverman was also criticized after she accused police of applying "double standards" and favouritism in their response to demonstrations, saying that aggressive right-wing protesters were "rightly met with a stern response", while "pro-Palestinian mobs" were "largely ignored".[37]

Exiled Egyptian television presenter Moataz Matar had his UK visa cancelled by the Home Office and was placed on a watchlist barring him from reentry after he was accused of supporting Hamas following his participation in a pro-Palestine protest in London.[38]

British author and political commentator Douglas Murray claimed that pro-Palestinian protesters were openly supporting Hamas on the streets of Britain.[39]

References

  1. ^ "Rishi Sunak says Israel has an 'absolute right to defend itself' against Hamas attack". Sky News. Archived from the original on 7 October 2023. Retrieved 7 October 2023.
  2. ^ "Rishi Sunak backs calls for humanitarian pauses in Israel-Hamas war". BBC News. 25 October 2023. Retrieved 19 December 2023.
  3. ^ "Rishi Sunak piles pressure on Israel as he calls for Gaza ceasefire: 'Too many civilians have died'". The Independent. London. 19 December 2023. Retrieved 19 December 2023.
  4. ^ Merrick, Jane (16 October 2023). "Rishi Sunak calls for Middle East peace process and two-state solution amid Israel-Hamas war". inews.
  5. ^ Forrest, Adam (14 December 2023). "Rishi Sunak backs two-state solution after Israeli ambassador says 'absolute no' to plan". The Independent. London.
  6. ^ "Extra £20 million in humanitarian aid doubles UK support to Palestinian civilians". Government of the United Kingdom. 23 October 2023. Retrieved 31 December 2023.
  7. ^ "Rafah border crossing to reopen 'imminently' as Sunak meets Middle East leaders". The Independent. London. 20 October 2023. Retrieved 6 January 2024.
  8. ^ "Prime Minister deploys UK military to Eastern Mediterranean to support Israel". Government of the United Kingdom. 13 October 2023. Retrieved 1 January 2024.
  9. ^ Daly, Patrick (13 December 2023). "UK announces fresh Hamas sanctions as Sunak hints at Royal Navy role in Gaza aid". Evening Standard. London.
  10. ^ Joshi, Jitendra (14 December 2023). "UK bans travel by 'extremist' Israeli settlers accused of West Bank violence". AOL.
  11. ^ "Calling for Gaza ceasefire now 'not in anyone's interest' – Sunak". BBC News. 21 February 2024. Retrieved 25 February 2024.
  12. ^ "The Lindsay Hoyle Gaza ceasefire vote row between SNP, Conservatives and Labour explained". Channel 4. 21 February 2024.
  13. ^ Bolot, Alex (21 February 2024). "Wednesday evening news briefing: Tory MP tables motion of no confidence in Hoyle over handling of Gaza debate". The Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 25 February 2024.
  14. ^ "SNP and Tories 'look to oust Lindsay Hoyle as Speaker' amid Gaza motion anger". The National. 25 February 2024. Retrieved 21 February 2024.
  15. ^ "Sunak criticises Hoyle's 'very concerning' actions over Gaza vote". The Daily Telegraph. London. 22 February 2024. Retrieved 25 February 2024.
  16. ^ "Israel-Gaza: UK aid supplies air-dropped into Gaza for first time". BBC News. 22 February 2024. Retrieved 25 February 2024.
  17. ^ "UK pledges £4.25m in sexual and reproductive aid for women in Gaza". The Independent. 25 February 2024. Retrieved 25 February 2024.
  18. ^ Keate, Noah (21 May 2024). "UK's Sunak slams ICC arrest warrant for Netanyahu". Politico.
  19. ^ "UK Labour leader Starmer: Israel must always have right to defend itself". Reuters. 10 October 2023. Archived from the original on 13 October 2023. Retrieved 13 October 2023.
  20. ^ MacInnes, Paul; Steinberg, Jacob (11 October 2023). "FA will announce plans to honour Israel victims before England friendly". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Archived from the original on 13 October 2023. Retrieved 13 October 2023.
  21. ^ "Israel 'has the right' to withhold power and water from Gaza, says Sir Keir Starmer". LBC. 11 October 2023. Archived from the original on 11 October 2023. Retrieved 12 October 2023.
  22. ^ a b "Keir Starmer facing pressure over Gaza stance". BBC News. 25 October 2023. Archived from the original on 25 October 2023. Retrieved 26 October 2023.
  23. ^ Rogers, Alexandra (20 October 2023). "Sir Keir Starmer seeks to clarify Gaza remarks following backlash from Labour councillors". Sky News. Archived from the original on 28 October 2023. Retrieved 28 October 2023.
  24. ^ Wells, Ione; Cooney, Christy (8 November 2023). "Imran Hussain: Shadow minister quits Labour front bench over Gaza". BBC News. Archived from the original on 8 November 2023. Retrieved 9 November 2023.
  25. ^ Rashid, Inzamam (6 November 2023). "11 councillors quit Labour over stance on ceasefire in Gaza – after calling for Sir Keir Starmer to resign". Sky News. Archived from the original on 17 June 2024. Retrieved 4 February 2024. It brings the number of councillors to have resigned from Labour to 50
  26. ^ a b c "Keir Starmer suffers major Labour rebellion over Gaza ceasefire vote". BBC News. 15 November 2023. Archived from the original on 15 November 2023. Retrieved 15 November 2023.
  27. ^ Adu, Aletha (15 November 2023). "Who are the Labour MPs that defied Keir Starmer over a Gaza ceasefire?". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Archived from the original on 17 November 2023. Retrieved 15 November 2023.
  28. ^ Walker, Peter (18 December 2023). "Keir Starmer joins Rishi Sunak in calling for sustainable ceasefire in Gaza". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 22 December 2023. Retrieved 22 December 2023.
  29. ^ "Politics latest news: Starmer follows Sunak's lead in calling for 'sustainable' Gaza ceasefire". The Daily Telegraph. 18 December 2023. Archived from the original on 22 December 2023. Retrieved 22 December 2023.
  30. ^ "Sir Keir Starmer 'strongly in favour' of two-state solution after calls for him to snub Israeli ambassador". Sky News. Archived from the original on 23 December 2023. Retrieved 2024-01-12.
  31. ^ "Second Labour candidate suspended as Starmer insists party 'has changed'". The Independent. 14 February 2024. Archived from the original on 15 February 2024. Retrieved 15 February 2024.
  32. ^ "Labour's difficulties on Israel, Gaza and antisemitism". The Guardian. 14 February 2024. Archived from the original on 15 February 2024. Retrieved 15 February 2024.
  33. ^ Francis, Sam (18 February 2024). "Sir Keir Starmer calls for Gaza 'ceasefire that lasts'". BBC News. Archived from the original on 18 February 2024. Retrieved 18 February 2024.
  34. ^ Schofield, Kevin (12 December 2023). "Keir Starmer Says He Still Does Not Support A Ceasefire In Gaza". Huffpost. Archived from the original on 19 March 2024. Retrieved 19 March 2024.
  35. ^ Stacey, Kiran (18 January 2024). "Unions tell Starmer of members' anger over Gaza ceasefire position". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 19 March 2024. Retrieved 19 March 2024. Union leaders have told Keir Starmer his position on Gaza risks alienating millions of Britons, telling the Labour leader their members are increasingly angry about his refusal to call for an immediate ceasefire in the Middle East.
  36. ^ Syal, Rajeev; Allegretti, Aubrey (10 October 2023). "Waving Palestinian flag may be a criminal offence, Braverman tells police". The Guardian. Retrieved 10 October 2023.
  37. ^ "Suella Braverman: Rishi Sunak still has confidence in home secretary". BBC. 10 November 2023.
  38. ^ "UK revokes Egyptian TV host's visa for 'backing Hamas' at rally: Report". Aljazeera. 11 November 2023.
  39. ^ "'I will not be bullied into silence,' Douglas Murray tells synagogue audience". Jewish News. 6 February 2024.
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