David Lammy condemns Israeli minister's threat to bring 'total devastation' to Palestinians

British Foreign Secretary David Lammy condemned Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz's threat of "complete destruction" against Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, a statement widely regarded as inciting genocide. Lammy emphasized that such threats are not only inconsistent with international law but also unhelpful in achieving peace.

Katz released a video message to Gaza residents on Wednesday, claiming, "The first Sinwar destroyed Gaza, the second Sinwar will bring complete destruction. Soon, the operation to evacuate the population from the war zone will resume, followed by something even more severe – you will pay the full price. Return the hostages and eliminate Hamas – or face complete destruction." This statement has sparked strong concern and condemnation from the international community.

Since March 18, Israel's renewed attacks on Gaza have resulted in over 500 deaths and over 900 injuries. Lammy pointed out in Parliament on Thursday that the majority of the victims were women and children. He also announced that a British national was injured in an Israeli attack on a UN facility. "Yesterday morning, a UN facility in Gaza was attacked," he said, "I can confirm to the House that a British national was among those injured. Our priority is to support them and their family at this time."

Labour MP Stella Creasy stated in Parliament on Thursday afternoon: "Defense Minister Israel Katz has claimed that the evacuation operation in Gaza will resume and threatened to completely destroy Gaza. This is not the behavior of a government that wants peace." She added, "This is not what the hostage families want to see, and we should speak up for them and for the innocent civilians in Gaza, the Palestinians who have lost their lives."

Creasy asked the Foreign Secretary to clarify: "To avoid any doubt, we disagree, we condemn Israel Katz's comments because these comments will not bring a ceasefire. If they are not challenged, they will fail to uphold international law." Lammy responded: "I condemn those remarks, and I hope that the experienced Minister Katz will withdraw those remarks." This marks the first time since the start of the 2023 war that a British minister has condemned a senior Israeli minister's genocidal remarks about Gaza.

Lammy further condemned a post on X on Wednesday by recently reappointed Israeli cabinet minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, which read: "Annihilate, crush, eradicate, wipe out, flatten, grind, burn, merciless, punish, destroy, smash. Annihilate!" Scottish National Party MP Chris Law read out the now-deleted post, calling it "genocidal." Lammy stated: "If those words were used last night, and I haven't seen them all, then I will condemn them unequivocally from this dispatch box."

Previously, Prime Minister Keir Starmer publicly overruled the Foreign Secretary's view on Tuesday after Lammy accused Israel of violating international law by blockading Gaza. Lammy has since retracted his remarks. He said on Thursday that "it is difficult to see how refusing to provide humanitarian assistance to civilians is consistent with international humanitarian law." But he added: "Our position remains that there is a clear risk that actions taken by Israel in Gaza are a serious violation of international humanitarian law," but he did not accuse Israel of already violating international law.