Andy Burnham Apologizes for Labour's Initial Response to Gaza Conflict

Andy Burnham published a social media post and video message on 9 July 2026 apologizing for Labour's initial response to Israel's military action in Gaza, BBC News reported. He stated that the party's approach caused huge hurt and that it got it wrong. "Labour's initial response to the treatment of Gaza caused huge hurt.

We got it wrong and I am sorry for that," Burnham wrote. In the video he added that many people felt the party did not get it right at the start of the military action and that the response had too often not been good enough. Burnham said the UK was too slow to call for a ceasefire.

He reiterated his condemnation of the 7 October 2023 Hamas attack, in which about 1,200 people were killed and 251 taken hostage, as well as antisemitic attacks in the UK. The Israeli military launched its campaign in Gaza in response to that attack.

Burnham praised current Labour government steps including recognition of a Palestinian state, sanctions on Israeli ministers and settlers, and restrictions on arms licences to Israel.

He accused Israel of violating the US-brokered ceasefire agreement and cited a surge of settler violence in the West Bank and East Jerusalem. "Netanyahu's government is clearly attempting to make a two-state solution impossible," Burnham said. He called for further sanctions and measures to ban trade in goods with illegal settlements in the West Bank.

Burnham was one of several high-profile Labour figures who called for a ceasefire by late October 2023, at a time when Sir Keir Starmer backed only humanitarian pauses. On 11 October 2023 Starmer said in an LBC interview that Israel had the right to cut off power and water to Gaza provided it acted within international law.