London, United Kingdom – The Mayor of London, Sir Sadiq Khan, has for the first time publicly described the situation in Gaza as a “genocide” against the Palestinian population. His remarks, made at a People’s Question Time event in west London, follow the recent findings of a United Nations commission of inquiry report which also concluded that Israel has committed genocide.
Sir Sadiq’s statement cited the “horrific events taking place in Gaza on a daily basis,” including the starvation of an estimated 20,000 children, a collapsed healthcare system, and a man-made famine. He also referenced the interim judgment of the International Court of Justice and the recent UN commission report, stating that in light of this evidence, it is “inescapable to draw the conclusion in Gaza we are seeing before our very eyes a genocide.”
The UN report, published on Tuesday, found reasonable grounds to conclude that four of the five genocidal acts defined under international law have been carried out by Israel since the start of the conflict in 2023. These acts include the killing of a group’s members, causing serious bodily and mental harm, deliberately inflicting conditions calculated to destroy the group, and preventing births. The report has been categorically rejected by Israel’s foreign ministry, which called it “distorted and false.”
The Israeli military campaign in Gaza was launched in response to the Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023. Since then, over 65,000 Palestinians have been killed, with more than 90% of homes estimated to be damaged or destroyed. The UN and other international bodies have also declared a famine in parts of the territory due to a severe blockade of humanitarian aid.
Mayor Khan’s comments align with a growing body of criticism in the United States Congress and among global political figures who are questioning Israel’s actions in Gaza. These include a report from Democratic senators accusing the Israeli government of imposing starvation as a tactic.
The UN commission of inquiry has also previously concluded that Hamas and other Palestinian armed groups committed war crimes and grave violations of international law on October 7, 2023.
Sir Sadiq Khan’s remarks add to the international pressure on Israel and highlight the increasing divergence of opinion on the conflict among political leaders, particularly in Europe and the United States. His statement comes just before a planned meeting between UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and US President Donald Trump.
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