Share this post:

Israel has just taken the most reckless step yet in its assault on Gaza – striking not in the Strip, but in the capital of Qatar, itself a sovereign nation and ally of both the United States and the UK.

And UK prime minister Keir Starmer has welcomed the Israeli President to Downing Street, as warmly as a best friend.

The Doha strike targeted Hamas leaders – terrorists by UK designation, admittedly – but engaged in negotiations for peace. Six people died, including a Qatari security officer.

The intended victims survived, and that fact alone exposes the brutality of Israel’s decision: it was not about securing peace but intended to ensure that peace does not happen.

Qatar has condemned the attack as “reckless” and “cowardly”. The UN Secretary General called it a flagrant breach of sovereignty. Even Donald Trump, hardly known for moderation, described it as damaging to both Israel’s and America’s goals.

Yet in London, Keir Starmer chose to welcome Israeli president Isaac Herzog to Downing Street, instead of honouring the UK’s obligations under international law.

An opportunity missed

Under the Genocide Convention, the UK has a clear duty: to prevent and punish genocide when there is a serious risk of it taking place.

That duty extends to arresting individuals credibly accused of involvement in such crimes if they set foot on UK soil.

Herzog himself has stated that all Palestinians are responsible for Hamas – a comment that strips an entire people of civilian protection.

He has excused Israel of causing the current famine and mass civilian death in Gaza, claiming it is Hamas’s fault.

And his government has overseen the systematic destruction of Gaza’s infrastructure, while ministers and MPs have repeatedly issued calls for ethnic cleansing.

If such behaviour does not constitute at least a “serious risk” of genocide, what does?

Starmer’s response

Starmer did confront Herzog on the Doha strike – calling it “completely unacceptable” and “a flagrant violation of sovereignty”.

But words are cheap. The real question is: why was Herzog allowed to walk out of Downing Street afterwards, instead of facing arrest?

Hundreds protested outside, calling him a war criminal and demanding action. Starmer ignored them.

In parliament, even Labour MPs described Israel as a “rogue state” and criticised the meeting as a betrayal of international law.

But Downing Street insists this was a “private visit”.

Private? An official meeting with the Prime Minister? The pretence is insulting.

Complicity through cowardice

Once again, the pattern is clear.

The UK government condemns Israeli actions verbally while continuing to provide political cover, military support, and legitimacy to its leaders.

Why?

• Deference to Washington, which shields Israel diplomatically?

• Servitude to the vested interests of the arms industry, which profits from supplying Israel’s jets?

• Political cowardice – a refusal to risk the anger of pro-Israel lobby groups?

All three, probably.

And the consequence is that our government chooses to be complicit with Israel, rather than holding Israel accountable.

The question Starmer cannot escape

By meeting Herzog and letting him go free, Starmer has placed himself squarely on the wrong side of both morality and law.

So the question is simple, albeit twofold:

• Has the Prime Minister acted honourably in merely scolding Israel for obstructing peace?

• Or has he shirked his duty to arrest a leader implicated in war crimes and possible genocide?

History will not record him as a statesman if he continues like this.

It will record him as a man who repeatedly had the chance to do the right thing – and failed.

Share this post: