'Shames Us All': Keir Starmer Is Now Facing Pressure Across Political Spectrum To Act On Gaza

Wednesday's front page from the Daily Express and Keir StarmerKeir Starmer is now facing pressure from across the political spectrum to take further action to stop Israel’s war on Gaza as starvation in the Palestinian territory soars.For more than 21 months, Benjamin Netanyahu’s government has been waging a ruthless assault on Gaza, triggered by the Hamas militants’ brutal attack on Israelis back on October 7, 2023.The war has split public opinion in the UK, with pro-Gaza protests springing up around the country as the government insists Israel has the right to defend itself.However, Israel’s blockade of aid and its recent attacks on any Palestinians trying to reach the slight trickle of relief allowed into Gaza seems to have become an intolerable turning point for many.Crossings into Gaza have been closed since March 2, meaning no fresh supplies have ben allowed to enter despite the crisis – plunging much of the 2.1 million population into poverty.The UN reports that, as of July 13, 875 Palestinians have been killed while seeking food. A further 201 were killed on aid routes and even more were killed at distribution points.Save The Children has warned that massacres are occurring at food distribution sites in Gaza every day.The charity also pointed out: “The starvation of civilians as a method of warfare is a war crime.”A key example of how this horror has changed public opinion came on Wednesday, when The Daily Express, a right-wing, anti-immigration newspaper which has consistently supported the Tories – and, briefly, Ukip – used a shocking image of a malnourished child from Gaza on their front page.Alongside the astonishing photo, the Express ran with the headline: “For pity’s sake, stop this now.”A secondary headline reads: “The suffering of little Muhammad clinging on to life in Gaza hell shames us all.”The article on the Express.co.uk website explains how at least 12 children have died in Gaza over the last 48 hours due to unprecedented levels of starvation.It also notes that 900,000 children in Gaza are going hungry right now, 70,000 of whom are grappling with malnutrition and the risk of death.Many on the left, including former Labour MPs Zarah Sultana and Jeremy Corbyn, have been criticising the war ever since it began.So it was significant to see a major right-wing newspaper echoing a similar message...The Daily Express is a right wing British newspaper that spends most of its time bashing immigrants. That it has devoted its front page to the starvation of Gaza is a sign of how dire the situation has become and how impossible it is to ignore. pic.twitter.com/6iG0RyCP1c— Richard Hall (@_RichardHall) July 23, 2025The Daily Express is the most right-wing mainstream newspaper in Britain.It now has a better position on Gaza than the Labour government. pic.twitter.com/7hzZUO6tKD— Owen Jones (@owenjonesjourno) July 23, 2025The Express is also not the only voice on the right to be raising its concerns over the mass starvation in Gaza.Tory MP Kit Malthouse told foreign secretary David Lammy on Monday that he could be at risk of being sent to The Hague unless he takes action to force Israel to stop the war.That’s not to say the UK government has stayed silent on what is unfolding in the Middle East, though.Lammy himself announced this week that he felt “sickened” by what is happening in the warzone, saying: “When you see innocent children holding out their hand for food, and you see them shot and killed in the war that we have seen in the last few days, of course Britain must call it out.”Along with 27 other countries including France and Canada, the UK has also condemned Israel for depriving Palestinians of “human dignity” and called for the blockade of aid to be lifted.However, the foreign secretary stopped short of implementing a full arms embargo on Israel, despite calls from nearly 60 MPs and peers.Lammy did impose a suspension of some arms licences back in September but many feel that does not go far enough.Labour MP Steve Witherden said: “The components which create the fighter jets that Israel has used to level Gaza are 15% British-made – we cannot hide from that.“Without British arms export licences, these jets could not fly, they could not drop their bombs.”Israel insists it has “not identified starvation at this current point in time”, although officials say they acknowledge “action is required to stabilise the humanitarian situation”.Even so, more than 100 non-governmental organisations (NGOs) issued an urgent plea on Wednesday for more life-saving aid to be allowed into Gaza.It’s important to note that calls for the government to fully withdraw its support for its ally Israel have been growing ever since the war began more than a year ago.Regional tensions first escalated in October 2023, when Hamas militants killed 1,200 people on Israeli soil and captured 250 others.Israel declared war and imposed a blockade on Gaza, while Israeli settlers in the West Bank also began to attack Palestinians. More than 21 months later, an estimated 62,614 Palestinians have been killed.So many Brits are now asking: how many more have to die before the UK acts?Related...MP Warns David Lammy He Could End Up In The Hague Over Gaza ‘Inaction’Israeli Soldiers 'Haunted By What They Have Done' In Gaza, UN Expert SaysIsrael Is Using Starvation To Commit Genocide In Gaza, New Amnesty Report Says

Comments

Breaking news

Ashes drinking video leak caused Graham Thorpe to ‘spiral into depression’

Metro

Comments

Similar News

The Channel migrant smugglers named and shamed: Albanian crime bosses, money launderers and an ex police translator are among 24 criminals sanctioned by government in small boat crackdown

Gangs and people linked to people-smuggling named and shamed with new sanctions

Scotland's streets of shame as figures show city shopping areas the worst for crime

Jenna Bush Hager under fire for 'body shaming' man in Speedos

The Coldplay Concert Shame Is Something to Celebrate

Exclusive: ‘Food thief’ sues ex-employer over ‘shame’ of being fired for eating coworker’s bagged lunch

A British citizen at ISKCON’s restaurant put a shame nave that people were outraged – watch video

Woman Shares 9 Facts About Her Intersex Body, No Longer Feels 'Shameful'

Dozens of overweight and obese people complain they have been fat-shamed by NHS doctors - as one tells patient: Surgery will be tricky - you're carrying two suitcases

Exclusive: ‘Food thief’ sues ex-employer over ‘shame’ of being fired for eating coworker’s bagged lunch

Jennifer Love Hewitt Re-Enters the Spotlight, Sparks Body-Shaming Debate

Man United top football's cocaine Hall of Shame table: Class A drug arrests hit record high in new official figures - with banning orders for hooligans on the rise

Inside Queen Camilla's remarkable royal journey from the shame of 'tampongate' to the throne at Westminster Abbey, as she celebrates her 78th birthday

Voices: ‘We failed those who protected us’: Independent readers react to UK’s ‘shameful’ MoD data breach

Rosie O’Donnell Cried, Knew ‘Trump Was Going to Win’ Watching Biden Debate Meltdown: ‘Shame on Democrats’

The ‘bully’ and the ‘silly man with silly ideas’: How Sycamore Gap fellers brought shame on tight-knit communities

'Shameful' That More Black Teens Die in London Crime Than Whites, Says Met Police Chief

Supermarkets to be named and shamed for abuse of parking rules at stores this month

Justice system 'close to broken', Met Police chief says - as he admits London's 'shameful' racism challenge

'Shame on You': Netanyahu Rejects 'Disinformation' in U.S. Media

Breaking news

Ashes drinking video leak caused Graham Thorpe to ‘spiral into depression’

Man, in 50s, found dead in London street sparks police raid

E-scooters may need licence plates after high-profile crashes

Ex-police officer beaten up by ‘six guys on mopeds’ over £2,000 bike

Idaho killer locks gaze on victims’ families as they face ‘evil’ in dock

Five gang members face life sentences for double murder at rap video shoot

Boxing legend Ricky Hatton to be honoured with the freedom of London

‘Caring’ mother, 78, killed when Jaguar ploughed into her Coventry home

Tory Peer Slams Reform Over 'Misinformation' Around Epping Protests With Thinly-Veiled Dig

Bluetongue Is In The UK: Everything You Need To Know About The Midge-Borne Disease

Kitchen Tips: Carla will no longer feel bitter, guests will also lick fingers – just adopt these 4 methods

IND VS ENG: What a bad luck! Shubhman Gill also trapped, this happened 14 consecutive times with the Indian captain

No! A dream house for 100 rupees? This dream will now be a fact for middle class people, just pay off

The pictures that show the scale of ‘mass starvation’ in Gaza

Major pub chain collapses into administration and closes six sites for good

Pete Davidson Breaks Silence On Becoming A Dad In First Interview Since Baby News

Venus Williams Has Some Smashing News About Her Personal Life

Fleetwood Mac Icons’ Romantic Instagram Posts Sent Fans Spinning, And Now We May Know The Truth

Foreign Aid Cuts Will Lead To More Poor People Dying, Government Admits

BBC Shares Future Of Recorded MasterChef Series Starring Axed Hosts Gregg Wallace And John Torode

Is ‘Fantastic Four: First Steps’ A Hit? Depends Who You Ask – But Critics Agree On 1 Thing

Fuel Station Owner’s Income: How much does a liter of pump make on a liter of petrol-diesel? You don’t know ..

Tech minister Kyle vows action on children’s ‘compulsive’ use of social media

Watch live: Brian Kohberger sentenced for murdering four Idaho students

Hosepipe ban: Botanist reveals which plants to save and which to sacrifice

Venezuela's returning migrants allege abuses in El Salvador's 'hell' prison where US sent them

Photos show emotional music fans paying tribute to Ozzy Osbourne

New form of type 1 diabetes identified in study

The tiny pacemaker smaller than a grain of rice that could revolutionise heart surgery

For hope on climate change, UN chief is putting his faith in market forces

Luca Guadagnino's 'After the Hunt' to open New York Film Festival

Idaho college killer Bryan Kohberger faces victim families as he’s sentenced for 4 grisly murders

More than 100 aid groups warn of starvation in Gaza as Israeli strikes kill 21 overnight

The Latest: Bryan Kohberger to be sentenced for murdering four University of Idaho students

Eight members of children’s youth choir suffer ‘seizure-like symptoms’ during performance at Boston church

El Salvador's new wave of political exiles say history is repeating itself

After much speculation, Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham announce 'Buckingham Nicks' reissue

Scientists in Barbados overturn hundreds of rocks to rediscover world's smallest-known snake

Terrifying moment dad pleads with ICE agents to let his child out of the car at daycare before they arrest him

New York man built and planted bombs on Williamsburg Bridge and Manhattan rooftops, authorities say

Paedo offered to pick teen up at school in Mercedes before being caught in sting

Loch Lomond water safety event to be held to mark World Drowning Prevention Day

Three rare whales found dead on Orkney shoreline

Broxburn football rematch arranged by Edinburgh Airport staff helps children's hospital charity

Tragic teen buried alive under 200C tar dies as family 'no longer sleep or eat'

Inside notorious Ibiza Rocks Hotel where two Scots holidaymakers recently died

Man airlifted to hospital after horror fall from ship at Scots harbour

Edinburgh EasyJet flight makes emergency landing in Bulgaria after passengers report 'smell'

Take the high road from West Lothian and try paddleboarding and canoeing at Loch Lomond

Flight restrictions imposed over Scotland as Donald Trump prepares for trip to mother's homeland

UK and India about to sign landmark trade deal but not everyone's happy

MasterChef series filmed last year to be broadcast after allegations against presenters upheld

Essex Police say Nigel Farage claims about migrant hotel protest are 'categorically wrong'

'A local lad done good': Fans remember Ozzy Osbourne in his hometown of Birmingham

London’s US Embassy owes £15,600,000 in congestion charges

We could get ‘proof of aliens by Christmas’ after ‘interstellar visitor’ flies past us

Baby killed after being thrown from car window ‘when mum didn’t strap him in properly’