Starmer slams Israel over Gaza famine and Qatar strike as Herzog faces protests in London

A tense meeting in London between British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Israeli President Isaac Herzog has exposed rare cracks in the alliance between the two countries, as Starmer directly criticised Israel’s role in what he described as a “man-made famine” in Gaza.

Following Wednesday’s talks at Downing Street, a spokesperson for the prime minister said Starmer had “implored Israel to change course” and urged Herzog to allow aid into Gaza and halt offensive operations. “They must stop the man-made famine from worsening further by letting aid in and halting their offensive operations,” the statement read.

The unusually blunt language marks one of Starmer’s strongest rebukes of Israel since entering office in July 2024, and it reflects growing alarm from humanitarian groups warning that hundreds of thousands of Palestinians are at risk of starvation after nearly two years of bombardment and blockade.

Herzog’s visit to Britain was met with uproar. Thousands of demonstrators massed outside Downing Street for a second day, organised by the Palestine Solidarity Campaign. Protesters also converged on Chatham House, where Herzog delivered a speech amid the din of banging pots and pans.

“There’s a genocide happening and the president of that country is in our country and being welcomed here, when nobody is happy about it,” one demonstrator told Al Jazeera. Another added: “You are aiding and abetting a genocide – and this man is not welcome in our country.”

The demonstrations underscored the depth of public opposition to Israel’s campaign in Gaza, but also to its expanding military operations beyond Palestinian territory. Just a day earlier, Israel had launched an air strike on Qatar, a close ally of both the UK and the United States, targeting a Hamas leadership delegation in Doha.

Starmer reportedly told Herzog that the strike was “unacceptable” and described it as “a flagrant violation of a key partner’s sovereignty”. The statement marked a sharp diplomatic rebuke, given Britain’s traditionally cautious tone on Israeli military operations.

Despite the strong words, Downing Street moved quickly to soften the message, stressing that “the UK and Israel are longstanding allies” with deep historic ties. Officials later emphasised that the exchange had been conducted “out of respect” between leaders who often disagree but remain strategic partners.

Herzog himself characterised the conversation as frank but respectful. “We argued out of respect,” he told reporters, framing the dispute as part of the natural dialogue between allies.

The political backdrop to the meeting was volatile. In Israel, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu faces mounting international criticism over the spiralling humanitarian crisis in Gaza, as well as outrage over the strike on Qatar. In Britain, Starmer has come under pressure from within Labour ranks and civil society groups to take a harder line with Tel Aviv.

For demonstrators on Whitehall, the diplomatic niceties mattered little. Chants of “shame” and “genocide enabler” echoed as Herzog entered Downing Street. Police maintained barriers, but the protests were loud and sustained, reflecting the depth of anger.

Analysts suggest Starmer’s intervention may signal a shift in Britain’s approach, though it is unlikely to sever ties. “What we are seeing is the UK trying to balance two imperatives: maintaining its strategic alliance with Israel while acknowledging the catastrophic humanitarian cost in Gaza,” one Middle East expert noted.

For now, both governments have chosen to emphasise continuity, but the unusually sharp rebuke from Downing Street – and the furious protests outside – highlight how Israel’s war in Gaza is straining even its closest international friendships