Israeli President Isaac Herzog must answer allegations of war crimes and genocide when he visits Britain this week, Health Secretary Wes Streeting has said. The Cabinet minister demanded Herzog explain how Israel can achieve its aims in Gaza "without genocide".
The UK government has stopped short of accusing Israel of genocide, saying it has not concluded that Benjamin Netanyahu's government is acting with the "intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnic, racial or religious group". This represents the legal definition required for the crime under international law.
Herzog's London visit
Herzog's visit this week is expected to include a meeting with Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer (Labour), according to Israeli media reports. The Israeli president will face intense scrutiny over his country's military operations in Gaza.
Streeting told Times Radio: "When the president of the State of Israel comes to London this week, I think he needs to answer the allegations of war crimes, of ethnic cleansing and of genocide that are being levelled at the government of Israel." The Health Secretary challenged Herzog's claims about Israeli military conduct.
"I think he needs to explain how, when we have seen so much evidence of the atrocities being perpetrated by the Israeli army, how he can possibly claim that the IDF (Israel Defence Forces) is the most moral army in the world," Streeting said.
Medical testimony from Gaza
Streeting revealed he had spoken to British doctors who worked in Gaza, describing their accounts as "the most harrowing eyewitness testimony". One doctor told him that "for weeks no food was allowed into Gaza, not even for babies".
The Health Secretary acknowledged the Hamas attacks on Israel in October 2023 were "barbaric", "immoral" and "inhumane". However, he argued that these atrocities could not justify the current level of civilian casualties in Gaza or "Israeli settler terrorism being perpetrated in the West Bank".
Government's official position
Foreign Secretary David Lammy previously outlined the Government's stance in a letter to the Commons International Development Committee. He described the high civilian casualties in Gaza, including women and children, as "utterly appalling".
"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'. The Government has not concluded that Israel is acting with that intent," Lammy stated in the letter.
Palestinian Authority talks
Sir Keir hosted Palestinian Authority president Mahmoud Abbas at Downing Street on Monday night. Abbas welcomed the Prime Minister's pledge to recognise a Palestinian state if Israel does not change course ahead of the UN General Assembly meeting in New York.
Both leaders agreed there will be "absolutely no role" for Hamas in Palestine's future governance. They discussed urgent measures including an immediate ceasefire, release of all hostages and increased humanitarian aid for Gaza.
Sources used: "PA Media" Note: This article has been edited with the help of Artificial Intelligence.
