Andy Burnham apologizes for Labour's Gaza stance, signals policy shift

Burnham told The Guardian that the UK had been too slow to call for a ceasefire and that more needed to be done to hold the Israeli government accountable. He suggested measures such as further sanctions on individuals and entities involved in violence, and potentially banning trade in goods with illegal settlements. This intervention seeks to address concerns among voters on Labour's progressive flank who have been critical of the party's stance.

The apology may contrast with remarks made by former Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer shortly after the Hamas attacks in October 2023, which had caused significant upset within the party. Burnham reassured Jewish communities that he remained concerned about antisemitism and strongly condemned Hamas's attacks, emphasizing that a zero-tolerance approach to antisemitism does not preclude holding the Netanyahu government accountable.

He described the suffering in Gaza as a "scar on our collective conscience" and noted increasing evidence of war crimes, though he stated that the determination of genocide should be left to international courts. Burnham also criticized settler violence and the expansion of illegal settlements, suggesting they aimed to make a two-state solution impossible.