UK Prime Minister Condemns Hamas Attack, Criticizes Israeli Actions in Gaza and West Bank

British Prime Minister Andy Burnham, speaking at the 81st session of the UN General Assembly in New York, described the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel as "absolutely horrific." He affirmed the UK's continued support for Israel and Jewish communities against threats, including those from Iran. "I condemned October 7 in the strongest possible terms. We continue to condemn Hamas and support Israel in the face of ongoing threats, including from Iran, against Israel and Jews worldwide," Burnham stated. However, he added, "But that does not justify the actions of the Israeli government in Gaza or the West Bank." The British Prime Minister noted that "far too many people, including far too many children," have died in Gaza, and the amount of humanitarian aid reaching the territory remains insufficient. "We will not stand by while terrible suffering continues and the prospect of a two-state solution is threatened," he declared.

Burnham also criticized settlement plans in the E1 area between Jerusalem and Ma'ale Adumim, warning that their implementation could jeopardize the possibility of a viable Palestinian state. He referenced London's recent decision to ban trade with Israeli settlements in Judea and Samaria and impose sanctions on individuals and companies involved in their expansion, measures announced on September 8. London simultaneously emphasized that these sanctions target settlements and related entities, not Israel as a whole, and reiterated its commitment to a two-state solution as the basis for future settlement.