LAMMY’S VISITS TO MIDDLE EAST SHAPING LABOUR’S GAZA STANCE

▶ UK’s shadow foreign secretary tours region as party positions itself as government-in-waiting

The UK’s shadow foreign secretary David Lammy has become the face of Labour’s evolving stance on the Israel-Gaza war as he travels the region hoping to show the empathy and leadership that is required by his hosts on all sides.

Mr Lammy has increased his criticism of the war after four visits to the region in six weeks in an attempt to de-escalate tension and help pave the way for a two-state solution.

His position presents a challenge to Foreign Secretary Lord David Cameron, who has sought to recalibrate the Conservative government’s unwavering support for Israel in the war’s first weeks.

“We look with huge concern at the civilian loss of life in Gaza,” Mr Lammy told The National.

“Everyone has said to me that the role that the UK can play, because of its relationship with Israel but also with Lebanon and the wider region, is important. We do not want to see an escalation of violence.” He was emphasising a point he also made in a visit to Lebanon last week.

“I’m here because of regional concerns about the escalation of violence that we are seeing in Gaza at this time, to understand better what diplomatic steps can be brought to bear,” he said.

“Britain had a very significant role to play in the Levant area, where we have a historic relationship and we are hugely respected.”

Labour has been divided over leader Keir Starmer’s support for Israel’s war in Gaza, in response to the Hamas attacks of October 7.

But the party has since appeared to change its tone, with Mr Lammy criticising the “intolerable” death toll in Gaza last month, and calling for an immediate “humanitarian truce,” in parliament last week, with the backing of Mr Starmer.

Mr Lammy has visited Israel to meet President Isaac Herzog and travelled to Jordan and Egypt to meet the foreign ministers Ayman Safadi and Sameh Shoukry.

He attended meetings with foreign ministers in Bahrain and Oman and visited the UAE and held talks with Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed, Minister of Foreign Affairs.

Mr Lammy’s meetings during the Israel-Gaza war may forge the foreign policy priorities for a future Labour government.

As Labour increasingly positions itself as a government in waiting, the meetings are seen as a vital bridge between the party and regional leaders.

Last week, Mr Lammy visited Beirut to try to deescalate rising tensions between Israel and Lebanese militia Hezbollah.

He had previously met people living on the northern border of Israel, who had been rehoused owing to weeks of Hezbollah attacks on Israel.

Tensions rose after an Israeli air strike in Beirut killed Hamas deputy Saleh Al Arouri, followed by the killing of a Hezbollah commander in southern Lebanon.

“I’m here to understand better what diplomatic steps can be brought to bear to see a de-escalation,” Mr Lammy told The National.

“I’ve been discussing … how we can see an implementation of Security Council Resolution 1701 and the request from Israel that they move Hezbollah back to the Litani River.

“My role is to see both sides de-escalate and show restraint.

We do have to find a negotiated agreement that will enable both countries to move forwards. The country is still in a very fragile place.

“It’s clear to me that nobody wants war. Nobody wants to see an escalation.

“I’m confident that Hezbollah, too, don’t want to see an escalation of violence.

“I hope that diplomacy can win out and that we can calm nerves.”

He highlighted the “huge challenges” that Lebanon had faced in recent years, including an economic crisis which drove more than 80 per cent of the population into poverty.

Mr Lammy has supported the UK’s recent air strikes on the Houthis in Yemen but said it was important for parliament to be able to “scrutinise” the government’s decision on which he intends to question Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.

Before the Israel-Gaza war started on October 7, Mr Lammy, had been critical of both sides in the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, objecting to the settlements in the occupied West Bank and to Hamas’s rocket attacks on Israel.

We look with huge concern at the civilian loss of life in Gaza … We do not want to see an escalation of violence

DAVID LAMMY

UK shadow foreign secretary