Andy Burnham, who is expected to be named Britain's new prime minister later this month, has called for stronger pressure on the Israeli government over its crimes in Gaza, according to an interview with The Guardian published on Thursday.
Burnham criticized current Prime Minister Keir Starmer's initial response to the Israeli genocide in Gaza, which began in October 2023 and is still ongoing despite a ceasefire in force. Stramer had initially defended Israeli crimes in Gaza, including withholding aid and the blockade, claiming that the occupation, which massacred tens of thousands of Palestinians, was acting within its "right to self-defense".
"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. And we must now do more to strengthen our approach," Burnham said.
Starmer initially rejected calls from within his party, including from Burnham, who was serving as a regional mayor at the time, to demand an immediate ceasefire. Instead, he backed calls for a humanitarian pause in the fighting.
The British prime minister later called for a ceasefire and has since criticized the Israeli government's conduct in Gaza. His government has imposed sanctions on far-right Israeli cabinet ministers and formally recognized a Palestinian state.
Although a ceasefire last year ended the two-year war, Israeli forces have continued carrying out strikes in Gaza, citing threats or fire from Hamas, which has fully adhered to the ceasefire and has not exercised any military activity since October.
Burnham said the UK should consider additional measures against those responsible for violence in Gaza, as well as restrictions on trade linked to illegal settlements. "We need to do more, which includes looking at further sanctions, both on those involved in the violence in Gaza but also looking at measures to ban trade in goods with illegal settlements," he said.
The UK government has faced sustained criticism over its response to the Israeli war on Gaza, particularly over its continued military and intelligence cooperation with the occupation entity, despite its violations against Palestinians.
London continued approving arms exports to "Israel" after the start of the war, with rights groups and opposition figures arguing that the government had failed to take sufficient actionto prevent British-made weapons from being used in operations in Gaza.
The UK also carried out surveillance flights over Gaza, with the missions involving Royal Air Force aircraft operating from bases in the region.
At home, the British government's approach to Gaza triggered widespread public opposition, with large demonstrations taking place across the country calling for an end to the war and greater protection for Palestinian civilians.
Palestinian rights advocates and campaigners also raised concerns over growing restrictions on Palestinian solidarity speech, including the use of anti-terror legislation against activists and the scrutiny of expressions of support for Palestinian causes.