Politics
Emily Thornberry says Israel is committing genocide in Gaza
The Labour veteran has followed London Mayor Sadiq Khan in characterising Israel’s actions as such, despite criticism from Jewish groups
September 19, 2025 09:48
The Labour veteran has followed London Mayor Sadiq Khan in characterising Israel’s actions as such, despite criticism from Jewish groups
September 19, 2025 09:48Emily Thornberry has become the second senior Labour figure in recent days to label Israel’s actions in Gaza a “genocide.”
In a TV interview on Thursday, Thornberry, chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee, said the war “looks like a genocide to me”.
Speaking to Sky’s Sophy Ridge, the MP for Islington South and Finsbury added: “But it doesn’t really matter what I think. What matters is what a court of law thinks.
“There will be a reckoning for this, and at that stage, we need to have a court of law to make a decision one way or another. It won’t be for politicians,” said Thornberry, who represents Islington South and Finsbury.
“I’m not the one who makes the decision – a court will make the decision.”
Thornberry, who last week dropped out of the race to become deputy Labour leader, also noted: “They won’t let journalists like yourself into Gaza, so it is quite difficult at this stage to get a proper assessment of evidence.”
"Do you think that Israel's actions in Gaza amount to a genocide?" - @SophyRidgeSky
— Politics Hub with Sophy Ridge (@SkyPoliticsHub) September 18, 2025
"Personally? Yeah. It looks like a genocide to me. But it doesn't really matter what I think. What matters is what a court of law thinks" - @EmilyThornberry#PoliticsHub https://t.co/GlTNastFii pic.twitter.com/HCRT9ooX21
The veteran Labour MP is the second senior party figure in recent days to break with the party’s official position by using the word “genocide” to describe the war.
On Wednesday, Mayor of London Sadiq Khan said: “I think what’s happening in Gaza is a genocide.”
His remarks drew criticism from Jewish groups; the Board of Deputies said he risked “exacerbating divisions in our own communities,” while the Jewish Leadership Council noted that some Jewish Londoners “no longer feel represented” by Khan.
The UK Government has repeatedly made clear that it will not use the term “genocide” to describe the war unless a reliable court makes that judgement. A spokesperson for the prime minister said it is up to a national or international court to make that judgment.
The minister for the Middle East, Hamish Falconer, reiterated this stance, saying: “Our long-standing position is that any formal determination as to whether genocide has occurred should be made following a judgment by a competent national or international court.
“But as we’ve made extremely clear – what is happening in Gaza is appalling and we continue to call on Israel to change course immediately by halting its ground offensive and letting in a surge of humanitarian aid without delay.
“The death and destruction is causing an unbearable humanitarian catastrophe which not only devastates the lives of so many Palestinians but also puts the hostages at risk - as their families have rightly recognised.”
Both Khan and Thornberry made their comments after a United Nations commission of inquiry concluded that Israeli authorities have committed acts amounting to genocide against Palestinians.
A spokesperson for the mayor said Khan decided to use the term “genocide” after reviewing the mounting evidence, including from the UN commission.
However, the UN report has been heavily criticised by Israel, with claims of bias and antisemitism and allegations that it relied on a flawed methodology.
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