LONDON (Reuters) -Britain has not concluded that Israel is committing genocide against Palestinians in Gaza despite appalling civilian suffering, according to a government letter.
Israel has been widely accused of the crime, including by the world’s biggest group of genocide scholars, over its nearly two-year campaign in the Palestinian enclave that has killed more than 64,000 people according to local authorities.
Israel rejects the accusation, citing its right to self-defence following the October 7, 2023, attack by Hamas militants that killed 1,200 people and resulted in the capture of 251 hostages, according to Israeli figures.
David Lammy, Britain’s foreign minister until Friday, wrote in a September 1 letter to a parliamentary committee that the government had carefully considered the risk of genocide.
“As per the Genocide Convention, the crime of genocide occurs only where there is specific ‘intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnic, racial or religious group’,” he said.
“The government has not concluded that Israel is acting with that intent.”
Lammy was foreign secretary from mid-2024 until Friday when he was replaced by Yvette Cooper and appointed deputy prime minister as part of a reshuffle.
His letter added: “The high civilian casualties, including women and children, and the extensive destruction in Gaza, are utterly appalling. Israel must do much more to prevent and alleviate the suffering that this conflict is causing.”
The long-held British government position has been that genocide should be determined by courts.
The Gaza war has strained Britain-Israel relations.
The Israeli government is enraged by Britain’s plan to recognise a Palestinian state and block Israeli officials from attending its biggest defence trade show this week.
Israeli President Isaac Herzog is due in London this week and is expected to meet Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
(Reporting by Sam Tabahriti, writing by William James, editing by Andrew Cawthorne)
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