Israel
Lammy: ‘UK does not believe Israel is committing genocide’
A former attorney-general called on the government to ‘abandon its harmful plan to recognise a Palestinian state’ in the wake of the reported admission
September 9, 2025 08:55
A former attorney-general called on the government to ‘abandon its harmful plan to recognise a Palestinian state’ in the wake of the reported admission
September 9, 2025 08:55The UK government does not believe that the UK is committing genocide in Gaza, according to David Lammy, the now ex-foreign secretary.
Per a report in The Times, Lammy wrote a letter setting out the official position shortly before he was ousted from the Foreign Office in a cabinet reshuffle.
“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’,” he is reported to have written to Sarah Champion, chair of the International Development Committee.
"The government has not concluded that Israel is acting with that intent.”
This would represent the first time that the government has officially stated that there is no genocide, with Lammy – who now serves as justice minister and deputy prime minister – previously saying that “This government is not an international court. We have not, and could not, arbitrate on whether or not Israel has breached international humanitarian law.”
He was reportedly responding to a letter from Champion, with the Labour backbencher understood to have questioned whether the UK’s participation in the production of F-35 fighter jets, some of which are sold to Israel, complied with its obligations to prevent genocide.
Responding to the report, crossbench peer Baroness Deech told the JC: “The UK’s conclusion is welcome but it begs the question why this blood libel wasn’t dismissed sooner.
“The hardliners who have been pushing the absurd ‘genocide’ smear against Israel have been doing so long before October 7 and it is troubling that these same extremists are to be rewarded by the UK’s recognition of a Palestinian state.
"The new Foreign Secretary should carefully consider how the UK’s move is emboldening Hamas before it’s too late”.
Likewise, Israel’s deputy foreign minister, Sharren Haskel, said: “The British Government’s rejection of the outrageous and unfounded claim that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza is long overdue.
"The reality is that Israel has sought to protect Gazans from harm while Hamas terrorists fight around them and provided vast amounts of aid while Hamas steals it.
"It must be remembered that the UK’s recognition of a Palestinian state only rewards these terrorists.”
And Sir Michael Ellis, the former attorney-general, added: “After a year of hostility by the Labour government towards Israel, it has now quietly conceded the obvious - Israel isn’t committing genocide.
"It is a source of national shame that this Labour government have blindly peddled this despicable smear while being egged on by extremists.
"If the government is belatedly coming to its senses then it’s not too late to abandon its harmful plan to recognise a Palestinian state which only rewards the depraved terrorists of Hamas.”
Lammy’s successor in the Foreign Office, Yvette Cooper, is yet to make a ministerial statement on the situation in Gaza.
However, following yesterday’s terror attack in Jerusalem, she tweeted: “I am horrified by the terrorist attack in Jerusalem. My thoughts are with the victims and their families at this awful time.”
She also met Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas yesterday, sharing a photo of them together and writing: “Important discussion with President Abbas on the urgent need to end the suffering in Gaza, with an immediate ceasefire, the release of hostages, and an unrestricted flow of aid.
"The Palestinian Authority & its reform agenda are vital to peace and a two-state solution.”
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