UK ambassador warns full Gaza occupation would be a ‘huge mistake’
Simon Walters says IDF has done all it can militarily and urges Israel to offer Gazans an alternative to Hamas, as UK outlines broader diplomatic vision
The British ambassador to Israel has warned that any decision by the Israeli government to fully occupy the Gaza Strip would be “a huge mistake,” urging a shift away from military action toward political solutions.
Speaking to Israeli journalists on Thursday, Simon Walters said the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) had already reached the limits of what could be achieved through fighting.
“The IDF has already achieved all that it could achieve in Gaza. Expanding the war would only lead to more Israeli and Palestinian casualties and would likely lead to the death of the hostages,” he said.
Walters’ comments came ahead of a meeting of Israel’s security cabinet expected to approve a broader military operation in the south of the Strip.
“If you want to defeat Hamas, you cannot achieve it through military action alone – you have to present an alternative to Hamas,” he added, calling for a postwar strategy that includes governance by non-Hamas Palestinian actors and increased diplomatic engagement.
The ambassador also addressed criticism of British Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s recent announcement laying out conditions for recognising a Palestinian state – which notably did not include the release of the estimated 50 hostages still held in Gaza.
“We did not make the release of the hostages a condition because we don’t want to reward Hamas. We don’t want to give Hamas a prize for the hostages,” Walters said.
He emphasised that the UK’s position is part of a coordinated international effort to isolate Hamas, support a two-state solution, and promote long-term regional stability.
Walters pointed to a joint statement issued by Arab states at a recent UN meeting in New York – which condemned the 7 October attacks, called for Hamas to disarm and release the hostages, and reaffirmed support for peaceful relations with Israel through a two-state framework.
The UK’s recognition plan, he explained, rests on several conditions: an end to the war, a new Palestinian governance structure in Gaza, proper security arrangements, international support for reconstruction, and the eventual coexistence of two states.
While defending Britain’s stance, Walters also acknowledged the worsening humanitarian situation in Gaza and urged Israel to expand aid access.
He concluded by reaffirming the UK’s longstanding commitment to Israel’s security and its designation of Hamas as a terrorist organisation. He also noted the strength of UK-Israel trade ties, describing them as an important pillar of the bilateral relationship.
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