Former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has publicly questioned Health Secretary Wes Streeting regarding his decision not to resign from the government after reportedly acknowledging that Israel is committing war crimes in Gaza. In a letter dated Thursday and reviewed by Middle East Eye, Corbyn criticized Streeting for what he termed a “shameful failure” to speak out against the actions of the Israeli government while remaining in a position of political power.
Corbyn’s letter follows the revelation of text messages exchanged between Streeting and former British Ambassador to the US Peter Mandelson. The correspondence, which surfaced on Monday, appeared to address speculation surrounding Streeting’s relationship with Mandelson, who recently resigned from the Labour Party amid controversies linked to his friendship with the late financier Jeffrey Epstein. In these texts, Streeting reportedly stated that Israel was “committing war crimes before our eyes” and described the Israeli government’s actions as “ethnic cleansing.”
In his letter, Corbyn pointed out the implications of Streeting’s private comments. “Once a government acknowledges that Israel is committing war crimes, any continued military or political support is an admission that it is knowingly aiding and abetting those war crimes,” he wrote. He noted that Streeting’s decision to remain in the cabinet of Keir Starmer—who leads a government providing support to Israel—contradicts his claim about the situation in Gaza.
Despite ongoing diplomatic relations between the UK and Israel, Corbyn emphasized that Starmer’s government has continued military collaboration with Israel during its operations in Gaza. He highlighted that while there have been some restrictions, such as a partial arms embargo, military and economic support persists. Corbyn urged Streeting to clarify why, if he believes Israel is committing war crimes, he chose to maintain his position in a government supporting those actions.
In the text messages, Streeting expressed his views on Israel’s conduct, referring to it as “rogue state behavior” and suggested that sanctions should be levied against Israel as a whole rather than just against individual ministers. This stance raises further questions about his commitment to addressing what he himself has described as serious violations of international law.
Corbyn’s letter also included pointed inquiries directed at Streeting, asking, “Do you believe this government is complicit in war crimes?” and “Would you be willing to cooperate with the International Criminal Court regarding any investigation into this government’s complicity in war crimes?” He stressed that history will judge those who remained silent while atrocities occurred.
In March 2025, just prior to the emergence of Streeting’s messages, Starmer had faced criticism for his handling of comments made by then-Foreign Secretary David Lammy, who described Israel’s actions as a “breach of international law.” Despite this, Streeting has not publicly called for sanctions against Israel or explicitly condemned the country for war crimes.
The exchange between Corbyn and Streeting reflects growing tensions within the Labour Party regarding its stance on Israel and the ongoing crisis in Gaza, as well as the implications of government officials’ private beliefs versus their public actions. As the situation evolves, the political ramifications of these statements are likely to resonate within both the party and the broader political landscape in the UK.
