US envoy slams Starmer over Gaza policy

The US ambassador to Israel criticizes Keir Starmer over Gaza policy as Britain lays out conditions for recognizing a Palestinian state.

US envoy to Israel slams Starmer over Gaza policy and WWII remark

The US ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee, publicly criticized UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Friday, arguing that Britain would have lost World War II under his leadership. Huckabee’s remarks followed Starmer’s stance on Israel’s plan to seize Gaza City, with Starmer saying the move would not end the conflict and would likely increase bloodshed. In a broader diplomatic exchange, Starmer linked recognition of a Palestinian state to concrete steps toward a ceasefire and a peace process. UK Ambassador to Israel Simon Walters pushed back against the idea of occupying Gaza and urged renewed diplomacy and full access for aid. The episode comes as Israel intends to push to take Gaza City, a move approved by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s security cabinet, while Starmer warned that recognition would hinge on measurable progress toward ending the war and humanitarian crisis.

This clash shows how wartime diplomacy can be folded into political theater. Huckabee’s sharp rhetoric risks inflaming tensions between allied governments and complicating a coordinated response to the Gaza crisis. Starmer’s position reflects an attempt to balance security demands with humanitarian concerns and a path to a two state solution. The UK move to recognize a Palestinian state in September adds pressure on Israel and could influence regional calculations. At the same time, calls for humanitarian access and a political settlement underscore a broader trap: security gains that do not translate into governance and relief leave civilians exposed and alliances strained. The episode highlights how language matters as much as policy in shaping public opinion abroad and within each country.

Highlights

Diplomacy now tests the balance between security needs and humanitarian imperatives.