BREAKING: UK government rules rut Genocide in Gaza

By Alpaslan Düven-London

The UK Government has stated that it does not consider Israel’s actions in Gaza to constitute genocide, despite the worsening humanitarian crisis and high civilian casualties.

In a letter to Parliament’s International Development Committee, Foreign Secretary David Lammy said the Government had “carefully considered the risk of genocide” but had not concluded that Israel is acting with genocidal intent. While condemning Israel’s military escalation and settlement expansion, Lammy stressed that the UK remains bound by international law and the Genocide Convention.

The Foreign Secretary confirmed that Britain has suspended arms export licences that could be used in the Gaza conflict since September 2024, with the exception of contributions to the global F-35 fighter jet programme — which he described as essential for NATO deterrence and European security. Direct exports of F-35 parts to Israel, however, remain halted.

The letter also noted that the International Court of Justice (ICJ) is still considering a case brought by South Africa accusing Israel of genocide but has not yet ruled on the merits. Lammy emphasised that while Israel must comply with provisional measures, the ICJ has not found genocide to have occurred nor established its plausibility.

“The high civilian casualties, including women and children, and the extensive destruction in Gaza, are utterly appalling,” Lammy wrote. “But the Government has not concluded that Israel is acting with genocidal intent.”