Britain’s policy on Gaza was wrong

Staff reporter
London
Labour leadership frontrunner Andy Burnham has publicly apologised for his party’s initial response to the war in Gaza, admitting that Labour “didn’t get it right” during the early stages of the conflict and pledging a significant shift in policy should he become Prime Minister.
In a statement that has drawn widespread political attention, Burnham acknowledged that Labour’s handling of the crisis caused “huge hurt” to many voters and communities across Britain. He said the UK had been too slow to call for a ceasefire following the outbreak of hostilities in October 2023 and promised that a future government under his leadership would adopt a firmer stance towards Israel.
Burnham proposed stronger measures, including additional sanctions against individuals linked to violence in the occupied territories and a ban on trade involving goods produced in Israeli settlements considered illegal under international law. While condemning the Hamas attacks of 7 October 2023 and rising antisemitism in Britain, he also said there was increasing evidence that serious violations of international law may have occurred in Gaza, although he stressed that international courts—not politicians—must determine whether genocide has taken place.
The apology marks one of the clearest attempts by a senior Labour figure to rebuild relations with pro-Palestinian supporters who abandoned the party over its handling of the Gaza conflict. Political analysts believe the move is intended to regain support in constituencies where Labour suffered significant electoral setbacks over its Middle East policy.
However, Burnham’s remarks have also sparked criticism from several British Jewish organisations, which argued that his comments risked overlooking Hamas’s role in the conflict and called for equal emphasis on tackling antisemitism.
With Labour preparing for a new chapter in its leadership, Burnham’s apology is widely seen as an attempt to redefine the party’s foreign policy while addressing one of the most divisive issues in recent British politics.