UK PM Starmer meets Palestinian families and ambassador after Labour Gaza policy criticisms

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer met a British Palestinian delegation at 10 Downing Street on Tuesday following widespread criticism of his policy toward the Gaza war, many of whom have lost family members in the Israeli assault.

Starmer and Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner heard from members of the Palestine Mission in London and the British Palestinian Families Network about the loved ones killed in the war and their concerns about the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

The families gave a list of 10 key demands for the UK government to prioritise, including an arms embargo on Israel and a recognition of a Palestinian state.

They also highlighted the importance of Child Evacuation, Family Reunification and Palestinian Visa schemes to the UK and for the government to ensure medical and humanitarian aid enters Gaza.

The "Child Evacuation Scheme" will provide life-saving medical treatment for 15 children from Gaza who were critically injured and unable to access healthcare due to Israel's destruction of the healthcare system.

This requires the UK government to provide safe transport for the children to the UK, along with coordinating travel permits and medical treatment so the children can get specialised care.

The Family Reunification Scheme aims to reunite Palestinian refugees with family members in Britain.

Starmer wrote on X that he is "humbled by their [Palestinian family's] immeasurable grief" while calling for a ceasefire, an end to the suffering and for Israel to let unrestricted aid into Gaza 'now'".

Dr Husam Zomlot, who heads the Palestinian mission to the UK, and Hamish Falconer, Labour's Middle East minister, were also present.

It comes as the Labour Party faces massive backlash over its policy on Israel's war on Gaza, which has killed over 42,792 Palestinians since 7 October 2023.

Despite calls within the membership for the Labour Party to demand an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, early on in the war, the UK government continues to green light arms licenses to Israel, only suspending 10 percent of sales due to risks of human rights violations.

Before being elected prime minister in July, Starmer caused controversy by asserting Israel's right to defend itself against Hamas and indicating he believed it was justified to cut water and electricity supplies to Palestinian civilians.

Most recently, the prime minister said he was weighing up sanctions against far-right Israeli ministers Itamar Ben Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich after former Foreign Secretary David Cameron revealed that the previous Conservative government were "working on" penalties on the Israelis.