UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has issued a forceful condemnation of Israel’s Gaza City offensive. He called the planned military takeover “wrong” and warned it will only prolong bloodshed. The sharp rebuke comes after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s security cabinet approved the operation. This operation shifts focus to Gaza’s largest urban center despite earlier ambitions to control the entire strip.
Starmer urged Israel to reconsider the Gaza City offensive, stating it would neither secure hostage releases nor end the conflict. “This action will do nothing but deepen suffering,” he said. “We need an immediate ceasefire, more aid, and Hamas’s surrender not further escalation.”
The move has drawn alarm from Israeli military leaders and hostage families, who fear for the 20 remaining captives. Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey accused Netanyahu of pursuing “ethnic cleansing”. Meanwhile, the SNP and Greens demanded Parliament’s recall to halt UK arms sales to Israel.
Israel’s proposed strategy aims to dismantle Hamas, recover hostages, and establish a new civil administration. However, it excludes the Palestinian Authority. The UN warns a full takeover could prove “catastrophic” for civilians already displaced. With 75% of Gaza under IDF control, the Gaza City offensive would tighten Israel’s grip on the enclave’s last major refuge.
The UK’s pledge to recognize a Palestinian state by September unless Israel changes course has further strained relations. Washington opposes the move, with VP JD Vance calling it premature during talks with Foreign Secretary David Lammy. “We share goals but disagree on methods,” Vance said, underscoring the challenge of aligning Western policies.
As Netanyahu forges ahead, Starmer faces pressure to act beyond rhetoric. With allies split and Gaza’s crisis worsening, the Gaza City offensive risks becoming a tipping point. It could redefine the war’s trajectory and the UK’s role in resolving it.
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