Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in Bekaa, eastern Lebanon: Number of martyrs in Israeli strike rises to two.
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: One martyr in Israeli strikes on outskirts of Shmistar, eastern Lebanon.
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: Schoolchildren wounded in Israeli strike on eastern Lebanon due to glass shattering next to them.
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: Israeli warplanes carry out two airstrikes on the outskirts of the town of Nabi Sheet in eastern Lebanon, near the Syrian border
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: Israeli warplanes launch a series of airstrikes targeting the hills surrounding the town of Shmestar, west of Baalbek in eastern Lebanon
Colombia: President Gustavo Petro: Trump's insult to myself and Colombia is no longer aimed at achieving an effective counter-drug strategy
Trump cancels Putin meeting, says "didn't feel right"
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in Caracas: The United States attacks another alleged drug-trafficking ship off the coast of Colombia in the Pacific Ocean
Palestinian official urges world to force 'Israel' to comply with ICJ ruling: AFP
Israeli media says Knesset approved bill to annex in West Bank in preliminary reading

UK PM retracts FM’s 'Israel' international law breach comments

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: News websites
  • 19 Mar 2025 14:39
  • 2 Shares
3 Min Read

The UK Prime Minister's office has retracted a statement by Foreign Secretary David Lammy accusing "Israel" of breaching international law over its blockade of humanitarian aid to Gaza.

Listen
  • x
  • Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer speaks with European leaders at the beginning of a video conference at 10 Downing Street in London, England, March 15, 2025. (Leon Neal/Pool Photo via AP)Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer speaks with European leaders at the beginning of a video conference at 10 Downing Street in London, England, on March 15, 2025. (AP)

The UK Prime Minister’s office has withdrawn a statement made by Foreign Secretary David Lammy, whereby he accused "Israel" of violating international law by blocking humanitarian aid to Gaza. Lammy had told the House of Commons on Monday that "Israel" had breached international law, but on Tuesday, a spokesperson for Prime Minister Keir Starmer clarified that the country was only “at risk” of doing so. This clarification follows a series of Israeli airstrikes on Gaza that killed over 400 Palestinians.

The spokesperson emphasized that while the Israeli actions in Gaza were "at clear risk" of breaching international humanitarian law, it remained the responsibility of the courts to make such determinations. “The government is not an international court,” the spokesperson noted.

The Council for Arab-British Understanding (CAABU) criticized the reversal, calling it a “disgraceful move” that undermines the government’s commitment to international law. It also highlighted a growing divide between Lammy and Starmer.

Related News

Labour Party members vote for recognizing genocide in Gaza

Britain poised to formally recognize Palestine on Sunday

Lammy’s comments focused on "Israel’s" blockage of essential aid, including food, fuel, and medicine, from entering Gaza. “This is a breach of international law. Israel quite rightly must defend its own security. But we find the lack of aid — it’s now been 15 days since aid got into Gaza — unacceptable, hugely alarming and very worrying,” Lammy had stated.

'The Israeli blockade on Gaza is unacceptable'

On Tuesday, Lammy told Bloomberg that he “could have been clearer” in his remarks, acknowledging that these matters should be handled by the courts. “It’s difficult to see how denying humanitarian assistance to a civilian population can be compatible with international humanitarian law,” he said, reiterating that the blockade was “unacceptable” and stressing the need for aid to flow into Gaza.

Lammy condemned the escalation, calling the reported civilian casualties “appalling”. He affirmed "Israel’s right to security" but emphasized that “all parties must re-engage with negotiations to get the remaining hostages out, we do need to continue to surge aid into Gaza, and a secure and permanent end to this conflict is the only way out.”

CAABU welcomed Lammy’s recognition of "Israel’s" actions but argued that the UK government should take further action to hold Tel Aviv accountable. CAABU’s director, Chris Doyle, criticized Downing Street’s ongoing complicity with "Israel’s" conduct and noted that the illegal blockade had been raised repeatedly with UK ministers since October 2023. Doyle also welcomed the cancellation of an Israeli official’s visit to the UK this week, stating, “We cannot have a business-as-usual relationship.”

  • Labour Party
  • Israeli aggression
  • Gaza aid
  • Keir Starmer
  • Gaza genocide
  • Israeli occupation
  • David Lammy
  • United Kingdom

Most Read

Yemeni Armed Forces Chief of Staff Major General Mohammad Abd al-Karim al-Ghamari , during a ceremony in an undisclosed locations in Yemen, undate (Yemeni Military Media)

Yemeni Armed Forces mourn martyred Chief of Staff al-Ghamari

  • Politics
  • 16 Oct 2025
From previous scenes of the Qassam Brigades targeting an Israeli D9 bulldozer with a Yassin 105 shell, east of Deir al-Balah. (Military Media of the Qassam Brigades)

US knew fatal Rafah blast cause was not Hamas op., says journalist

  • Politics
  • 20 Oct 2025
Abu Hamza, the spokesperson for the Al-Quds Brigades, during a speech televised on October 22, 2025 (Al-Quds Brigades Military Media)

Al-Quds Brigades' Abu Hamza mourns leaders, vows continued resistance

  • Politics
  • 22 Oct 2025
Smoke and fire rises after 'Israel' launched airstrikes on the village of Ansar, Lebanon, October 16, 2025 (social media)

'Israel' launches two waves of brutal strikes on east, south Lebanon

  • Politics
  • 16 Oct 2025

Coverage

All
War on Gaza

Read Next

All
Pro-Palestinian activists protest at Lafayette Park across from the White House to mark the approaching one year anniversary of the Israeli war on Gaza, Saturday, October 5, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)
Politics

Jewish figures call for sanctions on 'Israel' over Gaza genocide

Activists from the Foreign Press Association during a panel calling for press freedom in Gaza, April 11, 2025 in London, England. (X/ @FPALondon)
Politics

FPA demands Israeli court to allow int'l journalists access to Gaza

Matsapha Correctional Complex is seen in Matsapha, near Mbabane, Eswatini, Thursday July 17, 2025. (AP Photo)
Politics

Cuban man deported from US to Eswatini launches hunger strike

Russia President Vladimir Putin conducts a strategic nuclear forces exercise via videoconference from the Presidential Situation Centre at the Kremlin in Moscow, on Wednesday, October 22, 2025. (Alexander Kazakov, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP)
Politics

Putin oversees ICBM, cruise missile tests in strategic nuclear drill

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS