Assessing the UK Reaction to Israel’s War on Gaza

This report provides an in-depth analysis of the UK's political, civil society, and media responses to Israel's War on Gaza in October 2023. It critically examines the dominant political narrative, highlighting the near-unanimous support for Israel's military actions from leading political figures across the Conservative and Labour parties. The report identifies key themes, such as political opportunism, adherence to party conformity, and underlying biases against Arabs and Muslims, shaping the UK’s stance vis-à-vis Israel-Palestine. Furthermore, it explores how humanitarian concerns, including potential violations of international law by Israel’s occupation forces, were largely disregarded by UK political leaders. By dissecting the media’s role in shaping public perceptions and the reactions from civil society actors, this report offers a comprehensive overview of how the UK’s foreign policy, commitment to human rights, and political rhetoric were tested during this period of intense international scrutiny.