UK Labor’s Burnham apologizes for Israel’s response to Gaza violence | Gaza News

UK Prime Minister Burnham is pushing for a ceasefire, tougher sanctions on Gaza violence, and trade restrictions.

The incoming Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Andy Burnham, has apologized for the Labor Party’s initial response to Israel’s actions in Gaza, saying “we got it wrong” when he called for more punishment for the perpetrators of the violence.

“A lot of people feel that by starting Israel’s war on Gaza, my party was wrong and I’m sorry,” Burnham said on Thursday. video message written on X.

“The response was not enough. We needed to be better.”

Burnham admitted that the UK had taken steps, including recognizing the state of Palestine, imposing sanctions on right-wing Israeli ministers and imposing more sanctions on those who occupied the occupied territories.

“But let’s be honest: the UK was slow to call for a ceasefire, and now we need to do more to strengthen our approach,” he said.

He added that Israel continues to kill Palestinians in attacks on Gaza despite the ceasefire, and that settler violence and the expansion of illegal settlements in Palestinian territory continue.

According to the Palestinian Ministry of Health, more than 1,000 people in Gaza have been killed since the United States agreed to a “ceasefire” between Israel and the US in October.

“That’s why we need to do more, which includes looking at more punishments for those involved in the violence in Gaza and looking at ways to prevent illegal trade and settlements,” he said, failing to indicate who should be allowed.

He said “we need to do more to pressure the Israeli government”, but did not accuse Israel of killing people in Gaza, which some Labor lawmakers have done.

The Labor politician said “there is overwhelming evidence that war crimes appear to have taken place” but it is part of international law to find out.

He added that the UK should condemn what is happening in the Gaza Strip and condemn the attacks by Hamas on October 7, 2023, as well as anti-Semitic violence in Britain.

The Labor Party under Keir Starmer has been criticized by some of his supporters for what was seen as too weak a response to Israel’s war in Gaza, including rejecting calls for an early end to the war. This pushed many, especially among the young supporters of the party, to leave the party and join the Green Party.