Labour’s shadow chancellor has said a “terrorist attack” caused the Israel-Hamas conflict as she pushed back against suggestions Israel’s “occupation” of Gaza was to blame.
Rachel Reeves said she had “no time” for people cheering for the Palestinian cause on the sidelines of Labour’s annual conference in Liverpool.
She said Israel has “every right to defend itself” after Hamas’s deadly surprise assault, which provoked a furious response from Israel, leaving more than 1,100 dead on both sides.
The senior Labour figure insisted the party was standing by the people of Israel as she faced questions about the appearance of the top Palestinian diplomat in the UK at the conference.
Husam Zomlot, the head of the Palestinian Mission to the United Kingdom, told CNN that “Israel knew that this was coming their way… It’s a consequence”.
The Daily Telegraph reported Mr Zomlot is set to attend a reception at the conference on Tuesday night alongside shadow foreign secretary David Lammy.
Asked about his comment, shadow chancellor Ms Reeves told Sky News on Monday: “I’m very upset about those remarks. Israel, and the attacks on civilians, the festival goers, the children who have been taken hostage, it is completely unacceptable.
“And Keir (Starmer), David, myself, the whole of the Labour Party stand by the people of Israel at this moment.”
Labour leader Sir Keir has clearly labelled Hamas’ incursion into Israel as a “terrorist attack”, in contrast to Jeremy Corbyn who resisted explicitly condemning the militant group.
Mr Corbyn sought to avoid directly criticising Hamas while being questioned in Liverpool, where he was attending left-wing events outside the Labour conference.
The former party leader said he condemned “any acts of violence” but on the “terrible situation in Israel and Palestine… the way to end that, I think, is to end the occupation of Palestine by Israel”.
Ms Reeves told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme in response: “Gaza is not occupied by Israel.
“The real cause of what is happening now is a terrorist attack. If Britain or any other country was attacked by terrorists, we would believe, and rightly so, that we have every right to defend ourselves, to get back hostages and to protect our citizens.
“Israel is no different. It has every right to defend itself.”
She added: “Of course, it has to abide by international rules of engagement.”
Mr Corbyn is sitting as an independent MP after being removed from Labour’s parliamentary party over his response to antisemitism under his leadership, but remains a party member.
He will “absolutely not” be welcomed back as a Labour MP, Ms Reeves told LBC.
The shadow chancellor hit out at pro-Palestinian fringe events at the conference, telling Times Radio: “I’ve got no time for that.
“I want to see a Palestinian state existing alongside a safe and secure Israel.
“What frustrates me so much is that what Hamas has done over the last few days has set back the cause for peace that I am so desperate to see in the Middle East, and that people across Labour are desperate to see in the Middle East.
“Terrorism is not the way to get there. I’m appalled by what we’ve seen.”
Ms Reeves said she did not know whether Palestinian diplomat Mr Zomlot is at the Liverpool gathering or whether Mr Lammy will appear alongside him.
Mr Lammy’s office has been contacted for comment.
