UK MP slams US envoy after Gaza remarks

A senior Labour MP criticizes the US ambassador to Israel after a heated exchange on Gaza policy.

UK MP slams US ambassador to Israel after Gaza remarks

Emily Thornberry, chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee, called Mike Huckabee clearly an idiot in a post on X after he attacked Britain’s stance on Israel’s plan to occupy Gaza City. Huckabee, the Trump administration's ambassador to Israel, had accused Prime Minister Keir Starmer of aligning with Nazi Germany rhetoric. Starmer responded by condemning the plan to expel around one million Palestinians and to escalate the Gaza offensive. The UN Security Council held an emergency session, with Britain and other members calling Israel to reverse the decision. Starmer urged a ceasefire and increased humanitarian aid, while noting that Hamas must leave and disarm. The issue sits inside a wider debate about sanctions on settlements and Britain’s role in the peace process.

The clash shows how diplomacy now often plays out in public on social media. When officials mix sharp language with policy debates, the line between diplomacy and partisan rhetoric can blur, risking misinterpretation abroad. The incident also highlights a broader tension in UK policy, where calls for sanctions on settlements sit beside a commitment to humanitarian aid and negotiations. As public opinion and political pressure grow, ministers must keep policy steady while managing ally relations in Washington.

Highlights

Diplomacy demands steadiness even when emotions run high.