A government minister has hit back following criticism of the UK by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
It follows the deaths of two Israeli embassy staff, who were repeatedly shot near the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington DC on Wednesday night.
Sarah Milgrim and her boyfriend, Yaron Lischinsky, were both allegedly killed by Elias Rodriguez, a pro-Palestine activist. He has been charged with their murders, and the deaths are being treated as both a hate crime against the Jewish community and as terrorism.
Israeli PM attacks Starmer – latest updates
Following the attack, Mr Netanyahu warned that Sir Keir Starmer, as well as the leaders of France and Canada, are “on the wrong side of humanity and… history”. It comes after the countries threatened “concrete action” against Israel if it did not change strategy in its war against Hamas, with the UK also suspending trade talks on Tuesday.
Mr Netanyahu blamed the trio for fuelling antisemitism and likened their criticism of Israel’s renewed offensive to the shooting in DC.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Netanyahu hits out at Starmer, Macron and Carney
But UK government minister Luke Pollard has rejected these claims, while also condemning the killings.
The armed forces minister told Sky News on Friday morning: “I don’t recognise what the prime minister, Netanyahu, has said about the awful event in the States.
“We want to see a proper investigation, as we would do things to secure justice for those people who have been murdered in the States. But we also should not remove ourselves from the need to secure a lasting peace in Gaza.”
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Shootings suspect shouts ‘Free Palestine!’
Mr Pollard repeated the government’s call for all the remaining hostages to be released by Hamas, for aid to be delivered to “the people who are really suffering within Gaza” and for an immediate ceasefire.
Also reacting to Mr Netanyahu’s comments, Conservative MP Matt Vickers told Sky News that the shooting shows world leaders have to be “very sensible and cautious and careful in the language that they use, because it does have real consequences”.
The shadow home office minister added there is a “very charged and very heated debate” over the conflict, and called on politicians to “have a level head”.
