U.S. Ambassador Mike Huckabee has accused British Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband of engaging in "Jew hate" and "losing it" over his stance on the Gaza conflict. The extraordinary intervention from the American envoy to Israel came after Miliband, who is Jewish, posted a video on social media condemning the "horrific" situation in Gaza and vowing "decisive" action.
Miliband stated in the video, shared on Instagram, that he had met with individuals who had been in Gaza and heard "horrific" accounts, including stories of blocked medicines and children dying while awaiting treatment. He asserted that the UK government "has got to act and act more decisively than we have."
Responding to Miliband's remarks, Huckabee stated, "The Brits have lost it. The Jew hate of their government knows no boundaries and knows no facts."
Israel's foreign ministry also criticized Miliband, asserting that there are no restrictions on medicine entering Gaza. The ministry claimed that 22,500 tons of medical supplies have entered Gaza since the ceasefire, and that Gazans have exited the strip for medical treatment.
The tensions arise as the UK government, under Prime Minister Andy Burnham, is reportedly preparing to announce sanctions against Israel as soon as this week. A tougher approach to the conflict is a key demand from the left wing of the Labour party. Potential sanctions could include a ban on trade with settlements in the West Bank, a move the U.S. administration has warned against.
New shadow foreign secretary Tom Tugendhat cautioned that sanctions on West Bank settlements could undermine Britain's national security. Tugendhat, a former security minister, emphasized Israel's role as an important intelligence partner that has aided in protecting British citizens from terror attacks. He stated that protecting British people is the primary job of the British government and a key consideration in foreign policy.
Prime Minister Burnham is expected to meet with President Donald Trump face-to-face for the first time, potentially this month. Burnham is also slated to attend the UN General Assembly in New York, where a meeting with Trump might occur, or he could make a separate stop in Washington D.C.