Arabic version: بيرنهام يعتذر عن موقف حزب العمال الأول تجاه العنف في غزة

Andy Burnham, the likely next prime minister of the United Kingdom, has issued an apology regarding the Labour Party’s early response to the violence in Gaza. In a video message posted on X, Burnham acknowledged that the party’s reaction was inadequate, stating, “we got it wrong” and calling for tougher UK action. According to Al Jazeera, he expressed regret that the party did not respond effectively at the start of Israel’s military operation in Gaza.

Burnham admitted the UK government had taken some steps, such as recognizing the state of Palestine and imposing sanctions on Israeli far-right ministers. However, he criticized the UK for being too slow to call for a ceasefire and emphasized the need for a stronger approach moving forward.

He pointed out that despite a truce, violence continues in Gaza, with reports indicating more than 1,000 people in Gaza have been killed since a US-brokered ceasefire was agreed in October. Burnham advocated for additional sanctions on those involved in the violence and suggested measures to prohibit trade with illegal settlements.

While he mentioned the increasing evidence of potential war crimes, Burnham refrained from labeling Israel’s actions as genocide, a term some Labour lawmakers have used. He also condemned Hamas’s attacks and the rise of anti-Semitic violence in Britain, calling for a balanced critique of the situation in Gaza.