The British government summoned Israeli ambassador Tzipi Hotovely this week in response to Israel’s intensifying assault on Gaza—a rare public rebuke that signals deepening international concern over the war’s devastating toll.

Foreign Secretary David Lammy condemned the expansion of military operations, calling them “morally indefensible” and “no path to rescuing hostages.” Speaking before Parliament, Lammy accused Israel of forcing Palestinians from their homes while deliberately restricting life-saving aid. He warned that such conduct was eroding the foundations of the UK-Israel relationship.

The British government has suspended trade negotiations with Israel and announced sanctions against settlers and groups linked to violence in the occupied West Bank. Prime Minister Keir Starmer, whose earlier caution drew criticism, said the scale of suffering—particularly among children—is now “unbearable,” and demanded a ceasefire.

This growing frustration in London reflects a broader shift among close Western allies. A joint declaration by France, Canada, and the UK threatened “concrete measures” if Israel fails to halt its offensive and lift its siege on Gaza. The statement marks one of the harshest collective criticisms yet, as the death toll climbs and the humanitarian collapse deepens.

Israel’s actions, once defended as necessary for security, are now being viewed through a darker lens. The deliberate withholding of food, water and medicine, the mass displacement, the relentless strikes—these are not signs of a measured response, but of a war spinning further out of control.