Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s first meeting with Israeli President Isaac Herzog was dominated by sharp exchanges over the crisis in Gaza, with Downing Street later admitting it had been a “tough” encounter. The talks, held in London on Thursday, came as hundreds of protesters gathered outside to denounce Herzog as a war criminal and demand the government take a harder line against Israel.
A Confrontation Behind Closed Doors
The atmosphere inside No 10 was tense. According to both sides, Starmer condemned Israel’s latest military actions, including strikes in Doha earlier this week that killed at least six people and reportedly targeted senior Hamas figures.
Downing Street said the Prime Minister told Herzog the attacks were “completely unacceptable” and represented “a flagrant violation of a key partner’s sovereignty.” Officials said Starmer pressed Israel to rethink its military strategy, warning that the ongoing offensive in Gaza risked worsening the humanitarian catastrophe.
Starmer also urged Israel to open the way for more aid and to allow the evacuation of injured children and potential students to the UK. “They must stop the human-made famine from worsening further by letting aid in and halting their offensive operations,” a spokesperson said.
Herzog Defends Israel’s Actions
Herzog emerged from the meeting acknowledging the difficult atmosphere. “It was a meeting between allies, but it was a tough meeting,” he told the Chatham House thinktank afterwards. “Things were said that were tough and strong. But when allies meet, they can argue.”
The Israeli president rejected the idea that Gaza is facing famine, despite warnings from the UN and aid agencies, and insisted the blame for civilian casualties lay with Hamas. “Missiles are being placed in living rooms,” he said, repeating Israel’s long-standing claim that militants use civilians as shields.
Herzog admitted that the food distribution system set up by Israel and a Gaza-based humanitarian body had failed and was now being overhauled. But he pushed back strongly against accusations of genocide or ethnic cleansing, describing such allegations as “very easy to make without understanding the facts.”
Disagreement Over Palestinian Statehood
The Israeli leader also criticised Britain’s growing signals that it may soon recognise a Palestinian state. “We believe that a unilateral resolution regarding a Palestinian state will be adverse and negatively affect any future process,” Herzog said. “It won’t help one Palestinian, one hostage, and it can be interpreted by Hamas as a victory.”
He brushed aside controversial comments from members of Israel’s far-right cabinet, who have openly suggested expelling Palestinians from Gaza. “Israel is a democracy with as far-reaching free speech as imaginable,” Herzog said. “But that does not reflect Israeli policy. Israel has made it clear it does not want to expel anyone.”
On the question of the West Bank, Herzog played down suggestions of imminent annexation, saying such plans were not about to be implemented. However, he dismissed talk of a two-state solution, arguing both Israelis and Palestinians were too traumatised by violence to consider such a step.
Anger Inside Westminster
The meeting provoked strong criticism in Parliament, particularly from Labour MPs who accused the government of offering legitimacy to a leader presiding over what they see as war crimes. Some MPs described Israel as a “rogue state” and questioned why Herzog had been welcomed in London at all.
Wes Streeting, the shadow health secretary, said Israel had to answer allegations of war crimes and genocide. Herzog rejected this “out of hand”, insisting that even recent UK government assessments had not found Israel guilty of genocide.
Protests on London’s Streets
Outside Chatham House, where Herzog later gave a speech, several hundred demonstrators braved heavy rain to make their opposition clear. Banging pots and pans, they chanted “lock him up” as Herzog’s convoy arrived.
Rachel, a 20-year-old law student holding a placard reading “Herzog to The Hague”, said: “It’s disgusting that he was granted a meeting with Starmer. The government knows much of the British public does not stand for this. They knew they had to keep it secret, because people would have been there to stop it.”
Another protester, Jacqueline Namon, who had travelled from Reading, said: “Whatever I’m doing during the day, I’m thinking about Gaza. It’s stressful. I can’t understand how the powers that be are behaving the way they are behaving.”
The Doha Strike Controversy
Herzog also defended the controversial strike in Doha, which Israel said was aimed at Khalil al-Hayya, a senior Hamas political figure accused of blocking a ceasefire deal. Although al-Hayya’s death has not been confirmed, his son and several close aides were killed in the attack.
“We targeted those who refused to accept the deal,” Herzog told reporters. “He was one of the instigators and perpetrators of 7 October, and the Americans can confirm it.”
The strike has strained relations with Qatar, which has played a central role in mediating talks between Israel and Hamas. Critics say the move risks undermining fragile negotiations aimed at securing the release of hostages.
A Difficult Balancing Act for the UK
In a statement following the talks, No 10 said both leaders agreed that Hamas must release all hostages taken during the October 2023 attacks. Starmer also offered condolences for those killed in a terror attack in Jerusalem earlier this week, reaffirming Britain’s opposition to terrorism in all forms.
But the meeting underscored the political tightrope facing the UK. The government is under pressure to maintain its relationship with Israel, a long-time ally, while also responding to public anger over Gaza and international calls for a ceasefire. With divisions widening inside Parliament and visible anger on Britain’s streets, the pressure on Starmer to adopt a firmer stance is growing.
Key Takeaway
The “tough” exchanges between Keir Starmer and Isaac Herzog laid bare the growing strain in UK-Israel relations. With Gaza’s humanitarian crisis deepening, domestic protests mounting, and Labour MPs voicing anger, Britain faces an increasingly difficult challenge: standing by an ally while responding to a public that wants accountability and an urgent push for peace.
