David Lammy says 'Trump is right' that Gaza is 'lying in rubble'

British Foreign Secretary David Lammy has stated that US President Donald Trump is correct in his assessment of Gaza as a "wreck." However, in contrast to Trump's remarks on Tuesday, Lammy emphasized that Palestinians must be able to "live and prosper" in Gaza.

During a press conference with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday, Trump said, "I don't know how (Palestinians in Gaza) would want to stay there. That's a demolished site, it's purely a demolished site." He also stated, "If we can find the right land, or multiple pieces of land, build them some very nice structures, and invest a lot of money in that area, I think it would be far better than staying where they are, where they've had decades of death."

At a press conference in Kyiv, when asked for his response to this, the British Foreign Secretary said, "Donald Trump is right. When you look at the scenes of those Palestinians who have suffered such terrible displacement over months of war, it's obvious that Gaza is a wreck." However, he added, "We've been clear all along that we have to see a two-state solution, we have to see Palestinians able to live and prosper in their homeland of Gaza and the West Bank. That's what we want to achieve."

Lammy further stated, "That's why it's important that we move from phase one of this hostage deal to phase two and then to phase three, and that we rebuild Gaza. We will play our part in supporting the reconstruction, working with the Palestinian Authority and with Gulf and Arab partners. That's the assurance we all need to ensure that Palestinians have a future in their homeland." Notably, Lammy did not condemn Trump's startling declaration that the US would "own Gaza" and that Palestinians had no choice but to leave with no hope of return.

In Parliament, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer similarly insisted that "Palestinians must be allowed to return to their homes," but declined to condemn Trump's remarks. Middle East Eye inquired with the Foreign Office as to whether it condemned Trump's comments but did not receive a response. An opposition politician strongly urged the government to oppose Trump's position, calling it "strange but also dangerous." Liberal Democrat foreign affairs spokesperson Layla Moran called the president's suggestion "bizarre but also dangerous," urging the government to "immediately recognise Palestine as a state." Green Party MP Ellie Chowns noted that the "forced displacement" of the people of Gaza would be "ethnic cleansing" and demanded that the UK government "respond in the strongest terms, condemning Trump's reckless remarks." Independent MP Shaukat Adam called Trump's comments "absolutely appalling," and warned that they confirmed fears that "extremists" in Israel "want to ethnically cleanse Gaza."

In contrast, when asked about Trump's comments, Conservative Shadow Foreign Secretary Priti Patel responded, "We will have to wait and see because no one country can do this alone. Our partners, our allies in the Gulf and the Middle East, we've heard from the Saudi government... they will all have a role to play."