By Bill Bowkett

Copyright standard

Sir Sadiq Khan has accused Israel of committing “genocide” against Palestinians in Gaza, becoming the most senior Labour figure to contradict the government’s official stance.

The Mayor of London said his conclusion was “inescapable” after a United Nations report found that Benjamin Netanyahu’s administration “orchestrated a genocidal campaign for almost two years”.

It comes as Sir Keir Starmer looks set to recognise a Palestinian state over the weekend following US President Donald Trump’s UK state visit on Thursday.

But the Prime Minister has yet to call the conflict a genocide and is facing pressure from his own MPs to take stronger action against the Israeli government.

According to Palestinian health officials, more than 60,000 people have been killed since Israel’s military campaign against Hamas commenced following the October 7, 2023 massacre, which killed 1,200 Israelis and kidnapped a further 250.

Last year, the International Court of Justice issued a series of provisional measures that require Israel to comply with the Genocide Convention, including allowing more humanitarian aid into Gaza.

The Gaza Nutrition Cluster, which is composed of UN agencies and other humanitarian charities, said 20,000 children were admitted to hospital for acute malnutrition between April and mid-July, with 3,000 severely malnourished.

Speaking at the People’s Question Time in Hammersmith on Wednesday, Sir Sadiq said: “When I see the images of the children starving – 20,000 children have starved because of the policies of the Israeli government – when I see the health system in Gaza collapsed, when I see the lack of supplies reaching people in need, when I see the famine that is manmade, when I read the interim judgment of the ICJ, and then see a UN commission report this week, I think it’s inescapable to draw the conclusion in Gaza we are seeing before our very eyes a genocide.”

Israel’s foreign ministry said it categorically rejected two-year UN inquiry, denouncing it as “distorted and false”.

Sir Keir previously said he plans to recognise Palestinian statehood before the UN general assembly in New York this month if Israel does not meet a series of conditions to improve the situation in Gaza.

According to The Times, the PM delayed the announcement until the weekend for fear it could dominate his press conference with Trump at his Chequers country home in Buckinghamshire.

The state of Palestine is currently recognised by 147 of the UN’s 193 member states, including the likes of China, India and Turkey.