Lammy Condemns Israel’s Targeting of Starving Palestinians: Sanctions Threatened Amid Global Outrage

Published: 22 July ‘2025. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online

British Foreign Secretary David Lammy has delivered one of the strongest rebukes yet by a Western government official against Israel’s ongoing military operations in Gaza, describing the targeting of starving Palestinians as “grotesque” and “sickening.” His statements, which came during a series of media interviews on Monday, reflect mounting international condemnation following the Israeli military’s deadly operations in Deir al-Balah, a critical hub for humanitarian relief.

The latest offensive, which included a wave of air raids and ground incursions over the weekend, led to the highest single-day Palestinian death toll in nearly two years. According to Gaza’s civil defence agency, at least 93 people were killed while queueing for food. Eyewitness reports and humanitarian agencies confirm that those seeking aid were targeted in densely populated zones with little access to safe shelter or medical help.

Lammy, speaking to BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, expressed deep frustration that the United Kingdom could not unilaterally stop the war. While acknowledging the UK’s limited leverage, he made clear that the government would not turn a blind eye to what he called a catastrophic and morally indefensible situation. He insisted that all UK-issued arms export licences that could be used in Gaza had been suspended and strongly denied allegations that British surveillance flights provided intelligence support to Israeli forces.

The foreign secretary’s remarks come amid growing pressure from rights groups and international partners. The UK has now joined 27 other nations—including Australia, Canada, and France—in formally condemning Israel’s blockade of aid and the systematic deprivation of Palestinians’ basic human needs. The joint statement accused the Israeli government of stripping civilians of their “human dignity” and urged the immediate removal of restrictions on humanitarian access.

Despite this unified stance, major humanitarian organisations, including Amnesty International, have denounced the governments’ statements as insufficient and performative. Amnesty called on the UK and others to halt all arms sales, whether direct or indirect, and specifically cited the need to suspend shipments of components for the F-35 fighter jets used by Israel in Gaza strikes.

Confronted with criticism over the continued existence of over 300 UK arms export licences related to Israel, Lammy reiterated that none of them were active for use in Gaza and defended his record. “We have suspended arms sales that can be used in Gaza,” he said. “I’m satisfied that we are not in any way complicit in a breach of international humanitarian law. That’s the sober undertaking that I take as foreign secretary.”

Pressed further on whether the UK could influence the outcome of the conflict, Lammy admitted the limitations of Britain’s unilateral actions. He stressed the importance of working in concert with allies and indicated that more punitive measures could be implemented if Israel’s military campaign continued. “If we do not see this war come to an end, there will be more action,” he said. “We have obviously failed until it succeeds. That is the truth.”

Lammy’s remarks were especially pointed when describing the horror of watching children being shot while reaching for food. “I’m appalled. I’m sickened,” he said in a visibly emotional appearance on BBC Breakfast. “These are not words that are usually used by a foreign secretary attempting to be diplomatic, but when you see innocent children holding out their hand for food, and you see them shot and killed in the way that we have seen in the last few days, of course Britain must call it out.”

He added that Britain would continue its diplomatic pressure on the Israeli government, noting that an overwhelming majority of Israeli citizens—reportedly 83%—now support a ceasefire to secure the release of remaining hostages and to end the bloodshed.

Asked by ITV’s Good Morning Britain what more his government was prepared to do if Israel did not change its course, Lammy responded unequivocally. “We’ve announced a raft of sanctions over the last few months. There will be more, clearly. And we keep all of those options under consideration if we do not see a change in behaviour and the suffering that we are seeing come to an end.”

Lammy’s statements signal a shift in tone from the British government, which has until now walked a cautious line between supporting Israel’s security concerns and addressing the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. The gravity of recent events, particularly the targeted killing of civilians in line for aid, appears to have tilted the balance, prompting not just condemnation but also the threat of concrete diplomatic and economic consequences.

As the conflict grinds on with no end in sight and civilian casualties continue to mount, global attention is now sharply focused on how the UK and its allies will act—beyond words—to stem the bloodshed and restore the barest measure of human dignity in one of the most war-ravaged regions on earth.