Western leaders rally behind Israel after Iran strikes but silent on Lebanon massacres

UK leaders have publicly supported Israel after Iran's Tuesday night missile strikes, despite the relative silence from the political establishment about the ongoing massacres in Lebanon, where 55 people have been killed in the past 24 hours.

One Palestinian man in the West Bank was killed in the missile assault when a downed missile fell on him on a Jericho street. Several Israelis were lightly injured in the barrage with no reports of fatalities.

Liz Truss, who served as UK prime minister for less than 50 days in 2022, posted a short but potent tweet hours after the missile strikes expressing her strong support for Israel.

"I stand with Israel," she wrote followed by Israeli and British flag emojis.

Despite her shaky time as prime minister, Truss has attempted a comeback in UK politics, including at this week's Conservative Party Conference, making a pitch to right-wing Tories many of whom are firm supporters of Israel.

Another former PM and outgoing Conservative Party leader Rishi Sunak also showed his support for Israel, amid fears that a harsh retaliation against Iran could spark a wider conflict.

"Tonight's attacks on Israel by Iran are a stark reminder of the existential threat it faces," he said. "We stand unequivocally by Israel’s right to defend itself including against Hezbollah in Lebanon."

Former Home Secretary Suella Braverman, who famously described pro-Gaza protests as 'hate marches', also tweeted out a message strongly supporting Israel.

"Last year Israel was attacked in the south by Hamas terrorists. Then Israel was attacked in the north by Hezbollah terrorists," she tweeted.

"Today Israel is being attacked from the east, by Iran, the source of global terrorism. The UK must stand with Israel now if we are to win this war."

Prime Minister Keir Starmer made a speech at Number 10 on Tuesday night, slamming Iran's strikes. 

"I utterly condemn this attempt by the Iranian regime to harm innocent Israelis. The escalation is an incredibly dangerous situation and pushes this regime ever closer to the brink," he warned.

This must have been little consolation to the 1 million people forced from their homes in Israel's invasion of Lebanon, where at least 1,700 people have been killed since October 2024 and hundreds over the past week of heavy Israeli bombing.

One man who has consistently spoken about the harm inflicted on civilians on both sides has been Independent MP Jeremy Corbyn, who urged caution and de-escalation on Tuesday amid such tense times.

"For the past year, millions of us around the world have made repeated, desperate calls for a ceasefire. We demanded an end to the genocide. We warned of a disastrous regional conflict. We were ignored. Governments have fuelled the machinery of war," he tweeted.

"Their indifference to human life has destroyed prospects for peace and endangered us all. All of this violence was entirely avoidable. Without urgent de-escalation, more unimaginable horror is on the horizon.

"It’s time to listen to the voices of ordinary people across the globe calling for peace. That means ending the root cause of this appalling cycle of violence: the occupation of Palestine."

At least 41,689 people have been killed and 96,625 wounded since Israel launched their invasion of Gaza in October 2023, mostly women and children.