Wes Streeting has doubled down on his comments about Israel after claiming that the nation is “committing war crimes before our very eyes”.
Speaking to GB News, the Defence Secretary told host Camilla Tominey he “will not resile” from his comments, making clear they were “private comments” that have since been made public.
Pressed by Camilla on whether he still believes Israel is committing war crimes, Mr Streeting responded: “I’m not going to resile rom the comments I made, those were private comments that are now published, but I’m not going to resile from them.
“And I would just say that one of the things that has made our long standing friendship and alliance with Israel difficult has been the way in which Israel’s conducted itself, both in Gaza and in the West Bank, where we do not support the action that Israel has taken.”
The Defence Secretary assured that the Government “always has and always will” support Israel in its “right to exist and defend itself”.
He revealed: “One of the reasons I’ve been so concerned about Israel’s actions is because I’m a friend of Israel and I want Israel to be secure and to thrive as a democracy.
“And I think that is less likely with some of the action they’ve taken than more likely and that’s the context in which I have criticised Israel.”
Challenging Mr Streeting on his argument, Camilla questioned “how on earth” he knows better than “top brass and international lawyers”.
He responded: “Well, of course, you’re absolutely right to say that, the question is one for international courts.
“What I’m saying, Camilla, is I am not pretending I did not make those comments and I’m not pretending that I am not critical of the way that Israel has conducted itself in the West Bank and in Gaza.
“Israel has been a longstanding friend and ally of the United Kingdom, and sometimes the test of good friendship is being willing to tell your friends things what they don’t want to hear, telling them in good faith and telling them because you think it’s in their interest as well as the common good.”
Mr Streeting argued that he believes it is “in Israel’s long-term interests to have a safe, secure Israel alongside a safe, secure Palestinian state”.
He told GB News: “The test I think ought to be applied to Israel always is, ‘what would we do in their shoes? What’s the standard that we apply to ourselves?’ It’s going to take a lot of heavy lifting and a lot of statecraft to bring that about.
“It’s a far cry from where we are today, but I’m afraid that both through rhetoric and through action, Israel has made itself less safe and the prospects for peace less likely, and I think that’s regrettable, as someone who’s been a longstanding friend of Israel.”
Turning to other remarks made by the Defence Secretary, Camilla pressed Mr Streeting on his previous comments about US President Donald Trump, where he called the President a “sad, odious little man”.
Mr Streeting told Camilla: “The United States and the United Kingdom have the closest alliance of any two countries anywhere in the world.
“And if I were in any doubt about that before, I have seen firsthand this week just how deep and integral that alliance is.”
Camilla interjected, hitting back: “You’ve changed your tune, haven’t you?”
Mr Streeting responded: “Those aren’t comments I would make today, no. I’m looking forward to working with my counterpart, Pete Hegseth, we had a good conversation on Friday.
“We’ll be talking again no doubt in the coming days, both about the crisis in the Strait of Hormuz, where the UK, whilst not taking part in offensive military action against Iran, is playing a defensive role to secure our own interests, assets and people and allies.”
He added: “But we’ve also, I think, got an opportunity and a responsibility, once this war comes to a conclusion and we’ve got the conditions right, to remove the mines in the Strait of Hormuz and secure free shipping.
“That’s that’s the conversation I’m having with my US counterpart and with other allies to see what role Britain and our allies can play in performing that role at that time.”
