The UK Government has concluded it has not found evidence that Israel has committed genocide in Gaza, prompting criticism from within the Labour Party and rights organisations ahead of Israeli President Isaac Herzog’s visit to Britain.
In a letter published by the House of Commons international development committee, Foreign Secretary David Lammy set out the government's position that, while the “high civilian casualties, including women and children, and the extensive destruction in Gaza, are utterly appalling,” the crime of genocide under the Genocide Convention requires proof of a specific intent “to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnic, racial or religious group.” The letter said the government has not concluded that Israel is acting with that intent.
The ruling has deepened divisions within Labour. Some MPs said the government should not be “rolling out the red carpet” for Israel’s head of state, and Labour figures called for Herzog to answer allegations of criminal conduct during his time in Britain. Health Secretary Wes Streeting said on Times Radio that Herzog “needs to answer the allegations of war crimes, of ethnic cleansing and of genocide that are being levelled at the government of Israel.” Streeting said he had spoken with British doctors who worked in Gaza and described the testimony they provided as “harrowing,” including claims that aid had been severely restricted.
Streeting said the October 7, 2023, attacks by Hamas on Israel were “barbaric,” “immoral” and “inhumane,” but added that those attacks could not justify the level of civilian suffering seen in Gaza. His comments came as Herzog is expected to meet the prime minister during his visit.
Jeremy Corbyn, the former Labour leader who now fronts a separate movement called “Your Party,” accused the government of “genocide denial.” Labour MP Bell Ribeiro-Addy said the invitation to Israel’s president should be withdrawn and called for sanctions, while announcing her candidacy for the party’s deputy leadership.
Amnesty International UK’s chief executive, Sacha Deshmukh, said in a statement that “Israel is committing genocide in Gaza, and Isaac Herzog is the head of state of the country carrying it out,” and urged the prime minister not to provide diplomatic cover for Israel.
Downing Street said the prime minister hosted Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas at Number 10 on Monday night, and that both leaders discussed the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and the path to a long-term solution. A government spokesman said the prime minister reiterated the need for an immediate ceasefire, the release of all hostages and a “huge surge in humanitarian aid,” and that both leaders agreed there should be “absolutely no role” for Hamas in any future governance of Palestine. The spokesman added that the prime minister welcomed Abbas’s commitment to reform of the Palestinian Authority as part of work toward enduring peace and stability.
The debate over the genocide question has come amid personnel changes in the government. The letter setting out the legal position was signed by David Lammy, who was foreign secretary before being moved to justice secretary last week and given additional responsibilities as deputy prime minister. The government’s legal position rests on the interpretation of intent under the Genocide Convention, which international lawyers say can be difficult to prove and requires a specific finding of state policy or intent.
The clash between ministers, backbench MPs and rights groups underscores the diplomatic sensitivity of Herzog’s visit. British officials have faced pressure from campaigners and some Labour figures to press Israeli leaders over alleged violations of international law and to take measures to alleviate civilian suffering in Gaza. Government ministers and parliamentarians have also emphasised the need to distinguish between condemning the actions of Hamas and addressing the conduct of Israeli forces.
Herzog’s itinerary in the UK has not been fully disclosed by officials, but meetings with senior ministers and a likely encounter with the prime minister have been widely reported. The visit comes as international attention remains focused on Gaza’s humanitarian situation and on efforts at the United Nations to address the conflict and its civilian toll.
The Labour Party’s leadership has sought to balance criticism of Israeli policy with clear condemnation of the Hamas attacks in October. Sir Keir Starmer’s Downing Street meeting with President Abbas included a pledge that the UK would recognise a Palestinian state ahead of the UN General Assembly if Israel did not change course, according to the government spokesman.
The legal assessment published by the government does not close the door on further review. Legal experts say allegations of war crimes and crimes against humanity can be examined through separate mechanisms, including international investigations and courts, which assess evidence and intent under different legal frameworks.
As Herzog’s visit proceeds, divisions within Labour and calls from rights groups and some ministers for accountability are likely to shape parliamentary debate and public discussion in the UK about Britain’s diplomatic posture toward Israel and the response to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.