UK government concludes Israel is not committing genocide according to letter from MP David Lammy

In a letter responding to questions from Labour MP Sarah Champion, former British Foreign Secretary David Lammy outlined the government’s reasoning for concluding that Israel is not committing genocide in Gaza.

Champion has served as an MP for Rotherham since 2012. She chairs the International Development Committee, and also sits on the National Security Strategy and the Liaison Committees. The letter, dated Sept. 1, 2025, was in response to recommendations from the International Development Committee. The following questions has been put forward: 

“Does the Government accept that the duty to prevent genocide has been triggered? If so, at what point was this duty triggered? If not, why not?”

“If the Government accepts that the duty to prevent genocide has been triggered, what steps is the UK taking to employ "all means" and do "all in their power" to prevent genocide, as far as possible?”

“How does the exemption for F-35 components comply with the duty to prevent genocide?”

Lammy, now serving as the Deputy Prime Minister and Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice since Sept. 5, responded with the government line on the matter, promising, “This Government will always act in line with domestic and international law,” before spelling out detailed answers to each of her three questions.

“The duty to prevent genocide under Article I of the Genocide Convention (1948) arises when the UK learns, or should normally have leared, of the existence of a serious risk of genocide. From that moment on, if we have available the means likely to have a deterrent effect on those suspected of preparing genocide or reasonably suspected of harbouring genocidal intent, the UK is under a duty to employ all means reasonably available to us to prevent genocide," he explained.

According to Lammy’s reply, the UK government has not yet officially been convinced of “genocidal intent” on the part of Israel. Lammy, who had been serving as Foreign Secretary until last week shortly after sending the letter, assured Champion of the care with which they were making decisions:

“The Government has carefully considered the risk of genocide, including when permitting exports to the F-35 global programme. The high civilian casualties, including women and children, and the extensive destruction in Gaza, are utterly appalling. Israel must do much more to prevent and alleviate the suffering that this conflict is causing. As per the Genocide Convention, the crime of genocide occurs only where there is specific "intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnic, racial or religious group. The Government [sic] has not concluded that Israel is acting with that intent.”

While criticizing Israel’s actions in Gaza, the Deputy Prime Minister stated that the UK government has not found the Jewish state guilty of genocide. He commented on the International Court of Justice (ICJ) which is considering a case brought by South Africa against Israel under the Genocide Convention, saying that the body had “ordered Provisional Measures, including on humanitarian access in Gaza,” and stated that “Israel is under an obligation to implement such Measures as a matter of international law.” 

However, he conceded that no concrete evidence had so far been brought against Israel to suggest that a genocide was taking place: 

“To date, the ICJ has neither found that Israel has breached its obligations under the Genocide Convention, nor ruled on the plausibility of Israel committing genocide,” Lammy wrote.

“Accordingly, we do not consider that the ICJ's Provisional Measures Orders should be regarded as creating an awareness of a serious risk of genocide,” he concluded.