KEIR Starmer has been slated for putting out a statement condemning Israel's attack on Qatar as president Isaac Herzog is welcomed into the UK.
The Prime Minister posted on Twitter/X that the air strike in Qatar's capital of Doha "violates Qatar's sovereignty" and risks "further escalation" in the Middle East.
He added: "The priority must be an immediate ceasefire, the release of hostages, and a huge surge in aid into Gaza. This is the only solution towards long-lasting peace."
But the statement from Starmer has attracted backlash from journalists, academics and the public who want to see stronger action taken against Israel amid its genocide in Gaza.
Israel's president Herzog is due to arrive in the UK on Wednesday for a three-day visit amid calls for his arrest.
Aaron Bastani, co-founder of Novara Media, replied to Starmer's post accusing him of "humiliating" the country.
He said: "Cut the crap. You, and the rest of our government, supports Israel.
"You give them carte Blanche to behave like this. Not only humiliating this country, but likely displacing millions more refugees in the years ahead."
Phil Burton-Cartledge, a sociology expert at Derby University and a politics blogger, shared Starmer's post and called for the UK to stop supplying arms to Israel.
He said: "If it bothers you so much, stop the weapons shipments."
People who commented on the post accused Starmer of "empty words" and a "meaningless" statement.
Cut the crap. You, and the rest of our government, supports Israel. You give them carte Blanche to behave like this. Not only humiliating this country, but likely displacing millions more refugees in the years ahead.
— Aaron Bastani (@AaronBastani) September 9, 2025
Radio presenter Nicky Horne posted calling for Starmer not to meet with Herzog and apply economic sanctions to Israel.
He said: "Stop with the meaningless 'condemning'.
"Do you think @netanyahu will see that and think- Bloody hell, if Starmer is condemning me, we had better stop the genocide ? Do something meaningful. Don’t meet @IsraelPresident & use economic sanctions against the Israeli Government."
Councillor Martin Abrams, a Jewish elected member in London who recently quit Labour, described Starmer's statement as "mealy mouthed weasel words".
"Mealy mouthed weasel words that mean less than nothing on the eve of you rolling out the red carpet for Israeli President Isaac Herzog," he posted on Twitter/X.
Scotland's First Minister John Swinney also put out a statement saying there was "no justification" for Israel's attack on Qatar.
He said: "The Israeli attack in Qatar is without any justification. It is a further escalation of Israeli actions and further damages the process for peace. Israel must be held to account for this action and this latest breach must bring an end to the horror in the Middle East."
Herzog is not currently subject to an international arrest warrant. However, Israeli prime minister Benjamin Nethanyahu is, over alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity, and could face arrest if he travels to the UK.
Following the October 7 attack by Hamas, Herzog said that all Palestinians in Gaza were responsible.
His comments were highlighted during South Africa’s case accusing Israel of genocide at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in the Hague.
Herzog’s visit comes as the UK Government is expected to recognise a Palestinian state. Starmer has said he intends to do so unless Israel agrees to a ceasefire and a two-state solution.
On Tuesday, the UK Government ruled that Israel is not committing genocide in Gaza, despite a growing body of international experts who say the opposite.
Qatar has called the airstrike on Doha "cowardly" and a "blatant violation" of international law, while France and the UN have also condemned the attack.
