UK government warns Israeli attacks on Palestinians must end

In March 2025, the UK health secretary Wes Streeting expressed serious concern over the renewed Israeli military action in Gaza. This escalation followed the breakdown of a two-month ceasefire, which saw Israel conducting some of its most impactful strikes since the early phases of the conflict. Reports indicated that nearly 700 individuals, predominantly women and children, lost their lives in just one week due to these military operations, contributing to an overall Palestinian death toll exceeding 50,000 since the conflict's onset on October 7, 2023. Streeting articulated his deep sense of frustration and helplessness as a cabinet member, reflecting on the humanitarian crisis emerging from ongoing violence. Streeting recalled the dire situation in places like Susya in the West Bank, where ongoing threats of demolition by Israeli forces have increased hostility and settler violence over the years. He described these circumstances as wholly intolerable and pointed out that the actions taken by Israel are counterproductive to its own interests, emphasizing that these military responses cannot be justified as acts of self-defense. The importance of diplomatic efforts by the Labour government since July 2023 was also highlighted, as Streeting acknowledged the limits of these initiatives in effecting substantial change amidst the current bloodshed. Wes Streeting’s condemnation was echoed by Britain’s foreign secretary David Lammy, emphasizing the dire humanitarian consequences resulting from Israel's military operations, particularly the suspension of humanitarian aid to Gaza’s civilian population. Lammy expressed concern that these actions may conflict with international humanitarian law, although he stopped short of asserting a clear breach of such laws. As conflict escalates, the UK government is faced with significant pressure to address the emerging humanitarian crisis and advocate for peace, amidst growing international scrutiny and calls for justice in the region. This turmoil has roots in a violent chapter initiated by Hamas’s attack in October 2023. The UK government continues to grapple with its role and the influence it can wield amid such profound human suffering, attempting to leverage all diplomatic measures at their disposal to restore peace and alleviate the humanitarian crisis.