Andy Burnham Apologises for Labour’s Gaza Response, Vows Tougher Israel Policy

Andy Burnham apologised for Labour’s initial response to Israel’s military action in Gaza, saying “I know many people feel that at the start of Israel’s military action in Gaza, my party didn’t get it right – and I am sorry about that,” and pledging “We need to do better.”

“The United Kingdom’s likely incoming next prime minister, Andy Burnham, has apologised for the Labour Party’s initial response to Israel’s actions in Gaza, saying “we got it wrong” while calling for further sanctions on those involved in violence in the besieged enclave”

Al Jazeera

Burnham said the UK was “too slow to call for a ceasefire” and promised a tougher approach toward the Israeli government if he becomes prime minister, including “further sanctions on individuals and entities” and a possible ban on trade in goods from illegal settlements.

Al Jazeera

In the same message, he condemned the 7 October Hamas attack on southern Israel and reiterated his condemnation of antisemitic attacks in the UK.

The BBC reported that Labour’s initial response had “caused huge hurt” and that Burnham was among high-profile Labour figures calling for a ceasefire in Gaza by late October 2023.

The BBC also recalled that Sir Keir Starmer faced criticism for an LBC interview on 11 October in which he said, “I think that Israel does have that right,” when asked about Israel cutting off the supply of power and water to Gaza.

The Guardian traced how Labour’s Gaza stance became a fault line after Keir Starmer’s 2023 LBC interview, when he suggested Israel had “the right” to withhold power and water from Palestinian civilians, and the fallout included “Dozens of Muslim councillors threatened to quit the party.”

The Guardian said Starmer’s team took a week to clarify his remarks, but the damage had been done, and it later described a major rebellion over a vote for a ceasefire that saw eight of his frontbenchers quit, including Jess Phillips.

Anadolu Ajansı

Against that backdrop, Burnham’s apology was framed as an attempt to reset Labour’s approach, with The Guardian quoting a Labour insider saying “Andy gives us with a real reset moment.”

The Independent reported that Burnham’s intervention came hours before he received 322 nominations to be the next leader, with only 81 MPs still to make a nomination.

The Independent also quoted Burnham saying, “We’ve got to do more to put pressure on the Israeli government ... Yes, we have taken some important steps ... But let’s be honest, the UK was too slow to call for a ceasefire.”

Burnham’s proposed shift includes sanctions and trade restrictions, with The Independent saying it could mean arms sales to Israel could be banned and that Foreign Office ministers were looking at ways of preventing goods and services from the settlements making it into the UK.

“- Published Andy Burnham has apologised for Labour's initial response to Israel's military action in Gaza, saying the party "didn't get it right" and needs to do better under his leadership”

BBC

The BBC reported that Burnham praised policies Labour enacted in government, including restrictions on arms licences to Israel, but said he wanted to “strengthen our approach” to ensure the Israeli government adheres to international law and to keep the prospect of a two-state solution alive.

Burnham also warned that “There’s increasing evidence that war crimes appear to have been committed,” and said “There must be accountability for the depth of the suffering the people of Gaza have experienced,” while arguing it should be for “the international courts to determine, rather than politicians.”

The BBC added that UN reports have accused the Israeli government of committing war crimes which amount to genocide in Gaza, and that Israel has repeatedly denied all such allegations.

In the same BBC account, Burnham accused Netanyahu’s government of attempting to make a two-state solution impossible and called for further sanctions and measures to ban trade in goods with illegal settlements in the West Bank.