FOREIGN Secretary David Lammy has been pushed on why he “only seem[s] to have a problem” describing Israel’s actions in Gaza as genocide, given his history of using the term to describe other atrocities across the globe.
In a letter to the top Labour MP, the SNP’s Chris Law outlined examples of Lammy describing “genocides” across the world – and asked if the UK Government’s position on what constitutes one had now changed.
It comes after the Foreign Secretary told the Commons that terms like annihilation, extermination, and genocide were “largely used when millions of people lost their lives in crises like Rwanda, the Second World War in the Holocaust, and the way that they are used now undermines the seriousness of that term”.
Law said Lammy’s comment “outrageously diminishes and minimises the seriousness of the crime of genocide,” and represented a "deeply concerning reversal of the Government's position".
“Over 42,000 people, at least 15,000 of which are children, have been killed by Israeli forces. It should not require at least one million Palestinians to be killed for claims of genocide to be taken seriously by the UK Government.”
Law further highlighted that, in international law, genocide relates to the “the acts committed and the intent behind them,”not the number of people killed.
He went on: “Given that you have said in the past that the "Rohingya are facing genocide" (2017), you have stated with reference to China and the Uyghurs that we "cannot turn a blind eye to genocide" (Dec 6, 2021 and Dec 8, 2021), and you have spoken at the commemoration reception for the 27th Anniversary of the Srebrenica Genocide, it is impossible that you are unaware of how genocide is defined in international law, and that you specifically know that the term isn't limited to describe situations where millions of people have been killed.
“Why is it that you only seem to have a problem with the use of such terms when it comes to what is being perpetrated against the Palestinian people and not others?”
The letter comes after Law also pushed Lammy on whether he would sanction an Israeli politician and Israel Defense Forces (IDF) leader who called for Gazans to “starve to death” – after he met with him at the Labour conference.
The Foreign Secretary was photographed meeting Yair Golan – who was previously found guilty of illegally using Palestinians as human shields – by the Labour Friends of Israel lobby group.
It is a pleasure to be joined at #Lab24 by the leader of our Israeli sister party @YairGolan1 Yesterday he met with foreign secretary @DavidLammy This morning he met families of the hostages and will meet Labour MPs. pic.twitter.com/CYxyhZrP5c
— Labour Friends of Israel (@_LFI) September 23, 2024
Law said in the Commons: “Yair Golan is the same Israeli politician who, late last year, said in the Israeli press that starving people to death is ‘completely legitimate’.
“Given that the entire population of northern Gaza is on the brink of dying from famine, as repeatedly described both by members here today and by the under-secretary-general of the United Nations, will the Foreign Secretary sanction Yair Golan, in addition to his already stated aim of considering sanctions against [Israeli finance minister] Bezalel Smotrich for justifying the use of starvation against Palestinians as a weapon of war?”
Responding, Lammy only said that the “issues are being kept under review”.
Starvation of civilians as a method of warfare is a war crime. It is one of the war crimes which Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu and defence minister Yoav Gallant are accused of by the International Criminal Court chief prosecutor Karim Khan.
Lammy’s claim that what Israel is doing in Gaza does not constitute genocide contradicts many global experts, including the UN special rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian Territory occupied since 1967 Francesca Albanese.
My new report is out - available in all UN official languages: https://t.co/rOTHGuyAYl Genocide is a complex and insidious crime; proving destructive intent is an onerous task - yet not when it is so ostentatious, sustained by a political doctrine of ideological hatred and… pic.twitter.com/rdUna6za7y
— Francesca Albanese, UN Special Rapporteur oPt (@FranceskAlbs) October 28, 2024
On Monday, Albanese published a report on what she calls a “genocide” in Gaza, claiming that proving the Israeli government’s intent should not be difficult.
“Genocide is a complex and insidious crime; proving destructive intent is an onerous task – yet not when it is so ostentatious, sustained by a political doctrine of ideological hatred and articulated through institutional structures and policies,” she said.
The UK Government has been approached for comment.
