Portrait of Wes Streeting
Politician · country
Wikipedia (opens in new tab)

Wes Streeting on Israel

Private critic, public supporter (strong) Position evolved

TL;DR

Wes Streeting privately acknowledged Israel was committing war crimes but publicly maintained government support for the state.

Key Points

  • In July 2025, he privately stated that Israel was committing war crimes and its government talked of ethnic cleansing.

  • He publicly maintained a position consistent with the government's stance, which avoided formally accusing Israel of war crimes.

  • In a September 2019 speech, he affirmed Israel's right to exist while criticizing the occupation and settlement expansion.

Summary

Wes Streeting's position on Israel appears significantly conflicted between private admissions and public statements made as a government minister. He privately stated in July 2025 that Israel was "committing war crimes before our eyes" and that he had heard accounts of "calculated brutality against women and children" from medics, further adding that Israel was engaging in "rogue state behaviour" warranting sanctions. This private stance was revealed via leaked text messages where he also advocated for the UK to recognize a Palestinian state in line with France at the time.

However, Streeting's public stance has aligned with the Labour government's position, which has generally avoided formally accusing Israel of war crimes, despite the UK subsequently recognizing Palestinian statehood in September 2025. He has a long-standing association with the pro-Israel lobbying group Labour Friends of Israel, which he supported for over 20 years, though he also historically supported a two-state solution and criticized Israeli settlement expansion in a 2019 speech. The disparity between his private criticism and his public role suggests an evolution or a strong divergence between his personal assessment and his ministerial duties.

Key Quotes

I have never described Israel as an Apartheid State, because it is inaccurate and the status of the occupation affords Palestinians rights under international law and keeps the prospect of the Palestinian state that was promised alive.

Frequently Asked Questions

Wes Streeting's current public stance aligns with the Labour government, which has generally avoided accusing Israel of war crimes. However, according to reports in February 2026, he privately admitted that Israel was committing war crimes and advocated for sanctions on the state.

The available information suggests an evolution or a stark contrast between his private and public positions as of 2025/2026. He privately acknowledged serious violations by Israel in July 2025, which contrasts with a public history of supporting the pro-Israel group Labour Friends of Israel for many years, as noted in his private messages.

In private correspondence published in February 2026, Wes Streeting wrote that "Israel is committing war crimes before our eyes" and mentioned hearing accounts of "calculated brutality against women and children" from medics. He also suggested applying state-level sanctions against Israel for what he termed "rogue state behaviour."