Responding to Prime Minister Starmer’s meeting in Scotland with President Trump, Kristyan Benedict, Amnesty International UK’s Crisis Response Manager, said: 

“This meeting made one thing clear: the UK is offering no meaningful action to prevent and punish Israel's ongoing genocide in Gaza. 

“Pressing Trump for a ceasefire in Gaza has been a fundamental demand since the genocide began but far more must be done to end this horrific crisis. Why won’t Starmer speak out against the massive US military and diplomatic support fuelling Israel’s genocide in Gaza? Why won’t he openly challenge the President to stop backing this atrocity?  

“It’s a profound moral and legal catastrophe that governments with influence over Israel have utterly failed to prevent the genocide in Gaza. Amid mass starvation and horrific war crimes - empty diplomacy is nothing but a hollow response. The UK must act urgently to stop the genocide and hold Israel accountable - including by pressuring the US to do the same. 

“Words without action are worse than useless - they’re a smokescreen. This was a moment to lead, and the Prime Minister failed.”