UK blocks release of documents on secret Lammy-Sa’ar meeting

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
20 Oct 2025 09:43
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The UK Foreign Office refuses to release documents on a secret April meeting between David Lammy and Gideon Sa’ar, citing diplomatic sensitivity.

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David Lammy, the British Deputy Prime Minister, gestures as he speaks during the annual Labour Party conference in Liverpool, England, on September 29, 2025 (AP)

The UK Foreign Office has refused to release documents related to a secret meeting between then-Foreign Secretary David Lammy and Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar, citing concerns that disclosure could “be open to misinterpretation” and harm UK-Israel relations, Anadolu reported.

Anadolu, citing the Scottish daily The National, said the meeting took place in London on April 15, 2025, during Westminster’s Easter recess. It was not publicly announced at the time, and details only emerged following leaks to the media.

The Foreign Office blocked access to papers concerning the visit, including documents related to a request for an arrest warrant for Sa’ar filed by the Global Legal Action Network (GLAN) and the Hind Rajab Foundation. Lammy reportedly personally assured Sa’ar that the request would not be granted.

Criticism over lack of transparency

The decision has drawn widespread criticism from UK lawmakers and transparency advocates. Scottish Green MSP Patrick Harvie described the Foreign Office’s justification as “extraordinary", warning that accepting such reasoning could set a dangerous precedent for government transparency.

“The idea that the public cannot see these documents because we might misinterpret them seems extraordinary, and if that excuse is allowed to stand, it would set a dangerous precedent,” Harvie underlined.

Chris Law, Scottish National Party lawmaker for Dundee Central, called on Labour ministers to clarify their role in the Israeli siege of Gaza by releasing details about the pressure applied to senior Israeli political figures during the secret visit.

FOI request rejected after 5 months

While Freedom of Information (FOI) laws require public bodies to respond within 20 working days, the Foreign Office extended the deadline for a request by The National, citing the need for additional time to assess whether releasing the documents served the public interest.

After more than five months, the FOI request was ultimately denied, with officials citing reasons including the protection of government policy development, national security concerns, and potential repercussions for international relations.

The April meeting occurred amid heightened tensions over the Israeli war on Gaza and ongoing negotiations between "Israel" and the Palestinian Resistance. Reports indicate that Lammy and Sa’ar discussed humanitarian access to Gaza, the protection of aid workers, Israeli settlement expansion in the West Bank, and the Iranian nuclear program.