The UK government does not believe Israel’s actions in the Gaza strip is a genocide, a letter from the Foreign Office has said.

Previously, the Labour government said it was a question for the courts, not a national government if Israel had committed a genocide. 

But, last week, a letter to the international development committee from the then Foreign Secretary David Lammy showed a shift in position. 

According to a letter reviewed by The Times, Mr. Lammy explained that an evaluation by the Foreign Office concluded that Israel’s actions in Palestine do not constitute genocide.

The letter, which was sent prior to Sir Keir Starmer’s cabinet reshuffle after Angela Rayner’s resignation, stated that under the Genocide Convention, genocide is defined as acts with the specific “intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnic, racial or religious group.”

‘The government has not concluded that Israel is acting with that intent.’

This is the first time the UK government has explicitly confirmed that it does not believe what is transpiring in Gaza is a genocide.

In May, Hamish Falconer, the minister for the Middle East, informed MPs that the government’s stance is that a “competent court,” not “non-judicial bodies,” should make any formal determination of genocide.

A letter from Mr Lammy said an assessment conducted by the Foreign Office found Israel’s actions Palestine were not a genocide.

The almost 23-month war has killed more than 63,000 people, with at least 332 Palestinians dying of malnutrition

Last year, the now Deputy Prime Minister said the government was ‘not an international court.’ 

‘We have not — and could not — arbitrate on whether or not Israel has breached international humanitarian law,’ he said.

This letter was a response to Sarah Champion, chair of the international development committee, who sought clarification on the UK’s role in supplying parts for F-35 fighter jets that have ended up in Israel.

Despite the Justice Secretary’s description of Israel’s actions as “utterly appalling,” with significant destruction and numerous civilian casualties, the government concluded that what occurred did not meet the criteria for genocide.

He said the country ‘must do much more to prevent and alleviate the suffering that this conflict is causing’.

The MP for Tottenham said the Foreign Office had conducted numerous assessments on the question of genocide. 

This conclusion was reached even as the government opted to exclude British-made parts for the F-35 jet from the suspension of 30 arms export licenses to Israel.

A large number of Palestinians, including children, gather in order to get food, in Nuseirat Refugee Camp, central Gaza, on September 3, 2025

Palestinians carry pans and bowls forms a crowd to receive food aid provided by charity organization in Gaza City, Gaza on September 3, 2025

Palestinian children walk with water amid shortages, in Gaza City, September 3, 2025

It comes after the UK government decided to suspend 30 out of 350 arms export licences to the Middle Eastern country last September. 

Despite suspending some licences over fears British made weaponry was being used to violate international law, it exempted parts for the jets, as the aircrafts were part of a wider NATO defence programme.  

The Daily Mail has approached David Lammy, the Foreign Office and No 10 Downing Street for comment.