The Health Secretary has called for the Israeli President to address accusations of war crimes during his visit to the UK to meet with Keir Starmer, a senior Cabinet minister. Wes Streeting emphasized the need for Isaac Herzog to clarify how the Israeli government plans to achieve its goals in Gaza without resorting to genocide.
While the UK government refrained from directly accusing Israel of genocide, citing the absence of conclusive evidence of intent to destroy specific groups, concerns persist. Streeting stressed the urgency for President Herzog to respond to allegations of war crimes, ethnic cleansing, and genocide leveled against Israel.
In anticipation of the meeting, Streeting highlighted the importance of addressing the evidence of atrocities committed by the Israeli army. He questioned the assertion of the IDF being the most ethical army globally, urging Herzog to explain how the Israeli government intends to clear Palestinians from Gaza without perpetrating war crimes, ethnic cleansing, or genocide.
Additionally, Streeting shared accounts from British doctors who witnessed distressing conditions in Gaza, where access to food, even for infants, was severely restricted. Hamas also condemned the attacks on Israel in October 2023, denouncing them as barbaric, immoral, and inhumane. The criticism extended to the civilian casualties and suffering observed in Gaza, as well as the reported settler terrorism in the West Bank.