Israeli President Isaac Herzog held a short meeting with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer at Downing Street on Wednesday without the customary red carpet, days after Israel carried out strikes in Qatar that drew international condemnation.
Starmer used Prime Minister's Questions earlier in the day to condemn the strikes in Doha, saying they "violate Qatar's sovereignty" and do "nothing to secure the peace" that the UK and its allies seek. He said he had spoken with the Emir of Qatar to convey "support and solidarity" and that both men were pursuing a diplomatic route toward a ceasefire and a two-state outcome.
The Downing Street meeting lasted about half an hour. Photos from the event showed Starmer appearing stony-faced as Herzog arrived and left. Herzog did not respond to shouted questions from reporters as he walked along Downing Street, including whether Israel was undermining prospects for a Middle East peace deal or whether it was overseeing a genocide in Gaza.
The visit had already stirred controversy: some Labour MPs had urged Starmer not to meet the Israeli president while the war in Gaza and the humanitarian situation were ongoing. Starmer defended his decision to engage, arguing that abandoning diplomacy would be counterproductive and dismissing calls to avoid the meeting as "the politics of students." He told MPs the UK had taken steps including suspending arms that could be used in Gaza, sanctioning extremists and pausing trade talks.
When Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas met Starmer at No. 10 on Monday, a red carpet was rolled out. That visible contrast underscored sensitivities within the Labour Party and among wider public opinion over how the UK should balance diplomatic engagement with criticism of Israel's military actions and the humanitarian impact inside Gaza.
As Herzog's convoy left Downing Street, a protester threw a red smoke canister toward the vehicles. Police detained a person and removed the device before the convoy continued down Whitehall.
Israel's strikes in Doha targeted senior Hamas figures meeting to discuss a U.S. ceasefire proposal and prompted condemnation from several governments, which warned the attack risked derailing diplomatic efforts to end the Gaza war. The intensifying Israeli military operations in Gaza City and restrictions on aid deliveries have heightened international concern over civilian suffering.
At PMQs, Starmer said he would be "absolutely clear" with Herzog that the UK condemned the attack in Qatar, that restrictions on aid must be lifted, that the offensive in Gaza must stop and that settlement building should cease. He said the UK would continue to press for a diplomatic solution as the best route to secure the release of hostages and ensure humanitarian assistance reaches civilians.
Opposition voices highlighted the optics and moral dilemma of the meeting. Stephen Flynn, the SNP's Westminster leader, asked whether it was appropriate to host "the man who called for the collective punishment of the Palestinian people" while children were suffering. Starmer reiterated his commitment to diplomacy and to seeking a two-state outcome as the pathway to peace.
Herzog's visit to London comes as international actors pursue multiple tracks of diplomacy to try to stop the fighting and expand humanitarian access. The UK government says it remains engaged with partners and regional leaders to support ceasefire talks and to push for increased aid delivery to Gaza.