The UK Health Secretary, Wes Streeting, has called for Israeli President Isaac Herzog to address allegations of war crimes during his visit to the UK to meet with Keir Starmer, a senior Cabinet minister. Streeting emphasized the need for Herzog to clarify how the Israeli government plans to achieve its goals in Gaza without resorting to actions that could be categorized as genocide.
While the UK government has refrained from directly accusing Israel of genocide, Streeting highlighted the importance of Herzog addressing concerns around war crimes, ethnic cleansing, and genocide that have been raised against the Israeli government. Streeting stressed the need for accountability and transparency in light of reported atrocities by the Israeli army.
Streeting shared accounts from British doctors who had worked in Gaza, detailing distressing experiences such as severe restrictions on food supplies, including for infants. The Health Secretary’s statements come ahead of Herzog’s visit to London and underscore the urgency of addressing the humanitarian situation in Gaza.
In a separate development, Mr. Hamas condemned the attacks on Israel by Hamas in October 2023, denouncing them as “barbaric,” “immoral,” and “inhumane.” Mr. Hamas expressed concern over the civilian casualties and suffering witnessed in Gaza and criticized Israeli settler actions in the West Bank.
The calls for accountability and condemnation of violence come amidst ongoing tensions in the region and a push for dialogue and peaceful resolutions.
