Falconer accuses pro-Gaza MP of ‘echoing antisemitic tropes’ in Commons debate

Middle East Minister Hamish Falconer has accused pro-Gaza MP Iqbal Mohammed of “echoing antisemitic tropes” during a Commons debate after he claimed Israel has a “thirst for blood of innocent civilians” and an “insatiable appetite for the most barbaric violence.”

During a debate on Israeli Defence Forces action in Lebanon, the Dewsbury and Bentley MP cited over 3,000 estimated attacks by Israel in Lebanon and noted the destruction or heavy damage to more than 100 villages since March this year.

He stated that, up until Tuesday, Israel had injured 10,577 people and killed 3,468—including 128 health workers—and had attacked and damaged 17 hospitals, with three more hospitals damaged or destroyed.

After condemning allegations of double and triple-tap attacks on civilians by the IDF, Mohammed asked: “Will this Labour government do anything meaningful to stop Israel’s thirst for blood of innocent civilians, its insatiable appetite for the most barbaric violence, its Gazafication of Lebanon and the wider Middle East?”

In response, Falconer—who had repeatedly stressed the UK’s criticism of Israeli actions in Lebanon, Gaza, and the West Bank—replied: “I think we’ve got to be a bit careful when we describe the government of Israel.

“I don’t think that they have a thirst for blood for innocent civilians. I think we’ve got to be a bit more careful with our language in this Chamber.

“That sounds to me like it echoes antisemitic tropes. So, I want to just take a little bit of issue with the question that I was asked.

“I have taken clear steps in relation to Lebanon and indeed in relation to events in Palestine. We will continue to do so, but I do think we’ve got to be careful with our language.”

This is not the first time Iqbal Mohammed has faced controversy over his remarks regarding Israel.

“In October 2025, Mohamed argued against “the conflation of antisemitism with the banning of football hooligans” after restrictions were placed on Maccabi Tel Aviv fans attending a match at Villa Park. Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy pushed back, warning that Mohamed “reveals himself in the language he uses” and cautioned against employing potentially antisemitic rhetoric.

In July 2025, Mohamed was condemned by Jewish organizations for sharing a post by Andrew Feinstein that compared Israel’s actions in Gaza to Nazi atrocities.

The Community Security Trust (CST) and other representatives specifically criticized Mohamed’s use of the term “holocaust” to describe Israel’s military campaign, as well as similar remarks made by other independent MPs.

In December 2025, Mohamed faced severe backlash after sharing a post on X accusing Israel of intentionally causing the deaths of the Bibas family, an Israeli mother and her two children taken hostage by Hamas.

“The post alleged the family died from “Israeli bombs,” a claim that sparked outrage and led to formal condemnation by the Jewish Leadership Council (JLC).

Earlier, in January 2025 during Prime Minister’s Questions, Mohamed provoked groans and jeers in the House of Commons after asking Keir Starmer to pray for the release of “hostages on both sides,” seemingly equating Hamas’s kidnapped captives with Palestinians held in Israeli prisons.

During Wednesday’s Commons session, Falconer also strongly criticised the actions of Hezbollah, saying the terror organisation does “enormous continued harm to the people of Lebanon, as indeed they continue to attempt to do to the people of Israel as well.”

He recalled his visit in April to the very edge of the blue line in Lebanon to observe the heroic actions of the Lebanese Red Cross workers: “I met with incredibly brave representatives of the Lebanese Red Cross, young people who had in many cases given up their lives in order to try and make sure that they could minimise the harm that was coming from southern communities.”

Falconer said he had been left deeply upset at reports of further Israeli attacks on Red Cross workers there since.

Falconer also condemned an Iranian drone attack on Kuwait’s main airport after it killed a man and injured scores of others.

He said it was a “completely unacceptable attack” and had sent condolences to the Kuwaiti government. He urged Iran to de-escalate.

He was joined by Conservative shadow foreign secretary Dame Priti Patel who also issued condemnation.

Kuwait briefly shut the country’s main airport after it suffered heavy damage in the attack on Wednesday morning. Authorities said one person was killed and 63 were wounded.

India’s embassy said the person killed was an Indian national.

A Kuwaiti government spokesperson said the strikes had “severely damaged” the airport. It had only reopened on Monday after closing earlier in the war. Limited flights have since resumed.

Speaking in the Commons, Falconer said: “I’m sure that the whole House will join me in condemning Iran’s strike on Kuwait International Airport by drones this morning.

“This was a completely unacceptable attack which has tragically resulted in multiple injuries and at least one confirmed fatality. We stand in full solidarity with the government and the people of Kuwait, as well as our partners across the Gulf. I’ve conveyed my condolences this morning to the Kuwaiti foreign minister and his colleagues. We urge Iran to de-escalate immediately and return to meaningful dialogue to secure lasting peace and regional stability.”

Patel later said: “I would just like to conclude my remarks by joining with the minister in condemning the strikes that took place today in Kuwait and also the fact that Iran cannot carry on persisting in the way it is as a state sponsor of terrorism.”

Associated Press reported on Wednesday that the Iranian military had fired two missiles at Kuwait that fell apart en route.

The US military said it had “downed multiple drones” targeting American forces in the country. Kuwait’s defence spokesperson said its military had halted more than a dozen ballistic missiles and 17 drones overnight.

Iran has been attacking neighbours who are allies of the US since the country, along with Israel, launched attacks on Iran in February – killing Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Iran has since responded by blocking the Strait of Hormuz, which has provided deep problems for the global oil industry as the shipping lane is widely used for transporting the fuel.