Britain’s newly appointed Defence Secretary, Wes Streeting, has said Israel has “fallen short” of the standards the United Kingdom expects from its allies in its conduct during the war in Gaza and the occupied West Bank.
Speaking to journalists at the Farnborough International Airshow on Wednesday, Streeting said that, as a close friend and ally, Israel should be judged by the same standards Britain applies to itself.
“That is the standard that I think, I fear, they’ve fallen short of,” Streeting said.
The remarks mark one of his first public statements since taking office under Prime Minister Andy Burnham and follow the resurfacing of private WhatsApp messages in which Streeting had previously accused Israel of committing “war crimes” in Gaza and engaging in “rogue state behaviour” in the West Bank.
When asked about those earlier comments, Streeting declined to repeat the accusations but acknowledged them.
“I’m not going to pretend I didn’t make those comments,” he said.
Despite his criticism, Streeting reaffirmed Britain’s support for Israel’s right to defend itself.
“I’ve expressed very clearly my concerns about Israel’s actions in Gaza and the West Bank,” he said, adding that he believes “very strongly in Israel’s right to defend itself, to defend its values, its freedom, and its democracy.”
Streeting also declined to say whether Britain should continue purchasing Israeli military equipment, noting that such decisions are made collectively within the government.
The comments reflect the ongoing debate within Britain’s governing Labour Party over its stance on the Israel-Gaza conflict, which intensified after Hamas’ October 7, 2023 attack and Israel’s subsequent military campaign in Gaza.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham has sought to distance his administration from the approach of his predecessor, Keir Starmer. Earlier this month, Burnham acknowledged that Labour’s initial response to the Gaza conflict had caused significant public concern.
“Labour’s initial response to the treatment of Gaza caused huge hurt. We got it wrong and I am sorry for that,” Burnham said.
Streeting also addressed defence spending, refusing to commit the government to raising military expenditure to 3 percent of GDP by 2030, saying budget decisions would be made by Chancellor John Healey.
Appointed defence secretary earlier this week, Streeting said Burnham chose him because of his record as “a moderniser and reformer,” adding that he intends to bring the same approach to the Ministry of Defence.
