Wednesday, September 10, 2025 - Britain has not determined that Israel is committing genocide against Palestinians in Gaza, despite acknowledging the scale of civilian suffering, according to a government letter.
Israel has faced widespread accusations of genocide,
including from the world’s largest association of genocide scholars, over its
nearly two-year military campaign in Gaza, which local authorities say has
killed more than 64,000 people
Israel rejects the charge, insisting it is acting in
self-defence after the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack that killed 1,200 people
and led to the capture of 251 hostages, according to Israeli figures
In a letter dated September 1 and seen by Reuters, former UK
foreign secretary David Lammy told a parliamentary committee that the
government had carefully considered the risk of genocide
“As per the Genocide Convention, 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’,” Lammy wrote. “The government has
not concluded that Israel is acting with that intent.
Lammy, who served as foreign secretary from mid-2024 until
last Friday before being appointed deputy prime minister, also condemned the
humanitarian toll:
“The high
civilian casualties, including women and children, and the extensive
destruction in Gaza, are utterly appalling. Israel must do much more to prevent
and alleviate the suffering that this conflict is causing.”
The UK’s long-standing position is that genocide
determinations should be made by courts.
The war has further strained Britain-Israel relations, with
London planning to recognize a Palestinian state and barring Israeli officials
from its largest defence trade show this week
Israeli President Isaac Herzog is expected in London this
week for talks with Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
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