Why does the rift between UK parliament and government over Gaza crisis continue?

Pars Today – Members of the British Parliament, while criticizing the policies of Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s government regarding the Gaza war, have accused the UK government of being lenient toward Israel.

In a session held on Tuesday in the UK Parliament, sharp criticisms were directed at Prime Minister Starmer’s government over its policies regarding the Gaza war and its support for Israel. Members of Parliament, emphasizing the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and the government’s disregard for international condemnations, urged London to take more concrete measures to end the blockade of Gaza and halt arms exports to Israel.

This session took place amid the dire situation in Gaza. Israeli attacks continue, and the number of Palestinian martyrs rises daily. Meanwhile, hunger, lack of drinking water, and the unavailability of medicine and hygiene supplies have made conditions in the Gaza Strip extremely severe, with many children succumbing to starvation, and the crisis persists.

In this context, while officials in Tel Aviv continue to drum up war, European countries have shifted their stance, criticizing Israel’s policies. Many officials in these countries are calling for concrete measures to end the Gaza war and to halt European aid to the Israeli regime.

The United Kingdom is among the countries that, since the outbreak of the Gaza war, has stood alongside Israel with other European allies, providing extensive military, arms, and political support to the Israeli regime. The UK is recognized as one of the largest arms exporters to Israel, supplying advanced weapons, including fighter jets, tanks, and other military equipment—key aspects of its support in this regard.

On the other hand, Israel has long been considered an important commercial and economic partner for the United Kingdom. As a result, the UK has not only supplied Israel with various weapons and necessary equipment but, as a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council, has consistently defended Israel’s positions and opposed any actions against the Israeli regime.

Despite these longstanding ties, the UK Parliament has now taken a different stance under pressure from public opinion in Britain and across Europe. The scale of Israeli crimes and the widely circulated images of hungry and injured Palestinian children, as well as journalists, women, and men slain in Israeli attacks, have made the European and British public increasingly unwilling to accept European governments’ involvement in these atrocities. Consequently, members of the UK Parliament are now openly protesting the government’s position, and criticism of Prime Minister Starmer’s policies regarding Gaza has reached its peak.

In Tuesday’s session, members of the UK Liberal Democrat and Labour parties strongly urged Prime Minister Starmer’s government to take more effective action against the Israeli regime. Dr. Rose Savage, a Liberal Democrat MP, highlighted the critical situation of Palestinian children in Gaza, accused the government of leniency toward Israel, and called for an immediate halt to arms exports to the regime and official recognition of the Palestinian government.

Alister Strathern, a Labour MP, also emphasized the dire conditions of the people in Gaza and criticized the government’s slow progress in alleviating the humanitarian suffering of Gaza’s residents, describing the government’s stance as insufficient and calling for more decisive and practical measures from London.

Not only in the United Kingdom, but across other European countries, opposition to government support for Israel’s policies toward the people of Gaza has also intensified. Many European officials, influenced by public pressure, are now calling for collective and practical action by various European nations.

The positions of UK Parliament members also reveal a deep divide between the government and Parliament regarding the Gaza crisis and ongoing support for Israel. In fact, Britain’s special relationship with Israel continues to prevent the adoption of stronger and more effective policies against the Israeli regime. UK officials have so far relied on diplomatic rhetoric and humanitarian aid, while public opinion and Parliament members are calling for decisive and practical measures, including halting arms exports to Israel and ending the blockade of Gaza. However, in practice, no concrete action by the UK government to counter Israeli crimes or cut Western support for the regime appears likely.