Israel close to 'war crime' in Gaza, says former Israeli PM

By James Landale-BBC News Channel-Human Synthesis-20 May 2025

UK is cranking up the pressure on Israel - but why now?

For context: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says he "will take control of all of Gaza", but will stop the offensive if Hamas releases Israeli hostages and lays down arms. Israel also says the UK, France and Canada, who urged Israel to change their course of action in Gaza, are standing on the "wrong side of history".

Former Israeli prime minister, Ehud Olmert, claims that what Israel "is doing now in Gaza, is very close to a war crime".He adds that this is "a war without a purpose - a war without a chance of achieving anything that can save the lives of the hostages."

Olmert - who was speaking to the BBC News channel - was instrumental in Israel's exit from Gaza in 2005 before becoming prime minister between 2006 to 2009.

He says the "obvious appearance" of the war is that thousands of innocent Palestinians are being killed, as well as many Israeli soldiers."From every point of view, this is obnoxious and outrageous", he explains."

We are fighting the killers of Hamas, we are not fighting innocent civilians," he says. "And that has to be clear."

Former Israeli prime minister, Ehud Olmert

James Landale - Diplomatic correspondent. BBC News

British ministers have lost patience with Israel’s government over Gaza and are cranking up the pressure - suspending UK Israel trade talks, summoning Israel’s ambassador and sanctioning some more settlers - all wrapped up with strong condemnatory rhetoric from the foreign secretary in the Commons.

But why is the government acting now? Officials say the sheer scale of the humanitarian crisis after two months of blockade played a part, as did the lack of any clear path towards a ceasefire. Ministers were responding, too, to growing pressure from the public and from parliament.There was also an awareness the White House was becoming frustrated with Israel – President Trump sidestepped the country on his Middle East tour last week and Vice President Vance postponed a trip there this week.

But throughout David Lammy’s statement, he was urged repeatedly by MPs from all sides of the House to go further and impose more economic sanctions and a full arms embargo on Israel, along with officially recognising the state of Palestine. Mr Lammy promised to consider further concrete actions but refused to say what. But he did acknowledge he was “in close dialogue” with both France and Saudi Arabia about the idea of Palestinian state recognition.

But diplomats say they would still prefer to use recognition as a spur to further action, perhaps as part of a wider peace settlement, rather than a symbolic expression of anger against Israel and support for Palestinians.

James Landale - BBC NEWS

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