Britain: We do not consider what is happening in Gaza to be genocide, but the suffering is 'extremely horrific'

A formal message from the British government revealed that the United Kingdom has not concluded that Israel is committing genocide against the Palestinians in Gaza, but it expressed deep concern about what it described as 'extremely horrific suffering' of civilians, just before an anticipated meeting between British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Israeli President Isaac Herzog at Downing Street on Wednesday.

The message, written by former Foreign Secretary David Lammy on September 1, stated that the government carefully considered the risk of genocide according to the 1948 Convention, but found no evidence of a 'specific intent to destroy a national, ethnic, or religious group in whole or in part,' which is the legal condition for defining the crime.

These statements come at a time when Israel faces widespread accusations of committing genocide in Gaza, including reports from the largest international group specializing in the study of genocide, amid a human toll reported by the Health Ministry in the sector that has exceeded 64,000 dead since the military campaign began nearly two years ago.

Israel rejects these accusations, asserting that its military operations are in self-defense following the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023, which resulted in the deaths of 1,200 people and the abduction of 251 hostages, according to Israeli statistics.

The British government message emphasized that 'the widespread destruction and rising number of civilian casualties, including women and children, is absolutely horrific,' urging Israel to make more efforts to reduce the humanitarian suffering resulting from the conflict.

Prime Minister Starmer faces criticism from within the Labour Party for agreeing to meet Herzog, especially in light of the images of starving children in Gaza, the government's plan to recognize a Palestinian state, in addition to preventing Israeli officials from attending the international defense exhibition this week, which has increased tensions between London and Tel Aviv.

The British government confirms that the judiciary is the legally authorized body to determine the occurrence of genocide, in a position that reflects political and diplomatic caution in dealing with the Palestinian-Israeli file.