Ed Miliband has been accused by one of them of ‘hatred of Jews’ Donald Trump‘s top ambassadors today after he claimed access to medicines had been blocked Gaza.
Mike Huckabee, the US envoy to Israelsaid the British government had ‘lost it’ and ‘knows no facts’ following the Minister of Foreign Affairs‘s comments.
It came after Mr Miliband – who is Jewish – posted a video on social media condemning the “horrific” situation in Gaza and vowing to take “decisive action”.
Andy Burnham is reportedly preparing to announce sanctions against Israel as early as this week, with a tougher approach a key demand from many within Labor.
Trade with settlements in the West Bank – a separate disputed territory – could be banned, despite US warnings against taking such action.
In his video op Instagram Yesterday, Mr Miliband said he had just returned from a meeting with people who had been in Gaza and that it was “horrific what was unfolding”.
Ed Miliband faces new tensions with the US today after one of Donald Trump’s top ambassadors accused him of ‘losing control’ of Gaza
Mike Huckabee, the US envoy to Israel, said the British government was engaging in ‘Jewish hatred’
Mr. Huckabee was responding to a video posted by the Secretary of State on social media
He added: ‘The stories people told me about medicines being blocked, children dying while waiting for life-saving treatment.
“When you hear that story about what’s happening, you know that we as a British government, as the Prime Minister has said, have to act more decisively than we have.”
However, in response to the video, Mr Huckabee said: ‘The British have lost it. The hatred of Jews against their government knows no bounds and no facts.’
Israel’s Foreign Ministry also criticized Mr Miliband, saying: ‘If the Foreign Minister were interested in facts rather than stories, he would know that there are no restrictions whatsoever on the access of medicines to the Gaza Strip, and that no medicines are being blocked; that 22,500 tons of medical supplies have entered Gaza since the ceasefire began; and that Gaza residents are leaving the Gaza Strip for medical treatment, including 200 people who have done so in the past two weeks.”
Mr Burnham has concluded his first face-to-face meeting with Mr Trump, possibly as soon as this month.
The prime minister is expected to travel to New York for the UN General Assembly, although it is not clear whether he will meet the president there or stop in Washington.
It comes as the new shadow foreign secretary, Tom Tugendhat, has warned that sanctions on West Bank settlements could undermine Britain’s national security.
Debris in Gaza, which was destroyed during clashes between Israeli forces and Hamas
Andy Burnham has completed his first face-to-face meeting with Donald Trump, possibly as soon as this month
He said: ‘It is worth remembering that Israel is one of our most important intelligence partners and has been for many, many years.
“I can tell you as Secretary of State for Security that many incidents have not occurred thanks to cooperation with intelligence sources in Israel, who have helped us protect the British people from terrorist attacks.
“The first duty of the British government is to protect the British people, and one of the things I am absolutely clear about is that leading British foreign policy is first and foremost about protecting our people.”
