Starmer government under fire in parliament amid Gaza famine and siege

The session, attended by UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy, saw MPs stress that mere verbal condemnation is insufficient. London must, at minimum in coordination with Europe, take concrete steps to end the blockade and prevent further deaths.

Dr. Rose Savage of the Liberal Democrats highlighted that over 20,000 Palestinian children have been hospitalized due to severe malnutrition. Citing Amnesty International, she condemned Israel’s use of starvation as a “weapon of war” and urged the UK government to go “beyond verbal condemnation” by specifically halting arms exports to Israel and recognizing the Palestinian government immediately and unconditionally.

Alister Strathern of the Labour Party, referring to the dire conditions faced by Gazans, described the territory as “the world’s capital of maimed children,” and stated: “Government actions have been insufficient, and no positive measure will matter until the blockade and starvation end.”

Additionally, Sarah Green of the Liberal Democrats challenged the inefficiency of the Gaza Humanitarian Fund (GHF), noting that Médecins Sans Frontières has labeled its distribution centers as “sites of organized killing.” This mechanism, created with support from the U.S. and Israel to replace the UN’s traditional aid distribution system, has faced criticism from humanitarian organizations from the outset, with multiple reports of attacks on its centers and widespread looting of aid. Green questioned why the UK government has not pressured Washington and Tel Aviv to restore the UN system.

UK Deputy Foreign Minister Himesh Falconer acknowledged the inefficiency of the GHF, noting that it has not only failed to achieve its goals but has also been associated with death, injury, and abuse. He emphasized that London continues to support the UN’s role in directing aid distribution.

During the session, Helen McGuire of the Liberal Democrats, citing the UN’s confirmation of famine in Gaza, described the situation as “a man-made disaster and a failure of humanity,” calling for sanctions against all members of Israel’s cabinet, including Netanyahu. Falconer did not reject this request but only recalled London’s existing sanctions against two Israeli cabinet ministers.