Israel 'fallen short' of UK military standards in Gaza, new British defense chief says

New British Defense Secretary Wes Streeting stated on Wednesday that Israel has "fallen short" of the UK's military standards during its war in Gaza, telling journalists, "That is the standard that I think, I fear, they've fallen short of." He also acknowledged previous comments where he accused Israel of "committing war crimes." However, military experts and former British officers challenged Streeting's claims.

• Colonel Richard Kemp, a staunch ally of Israel, asserted that "Israel exceeded what any other army could do in Gaza in fighting capabilities" and in minimizing harm to non-combatants.
• International lawyer Natasha Hausdorff called Streeting's claim "truly disgraceful," citing General Sir John McColl's observations from Gaza.
• General McColl, who served 38 years in the British Army, concluded in a September 2024 op-ed that "the IDF's operations and rules of engagement were rigorous compared to the British Army and our western allies."
• Military historian Robert Lyman indicated that Streeting's comments contradict the advice he was likely given, suggesting the Defense Secretary either disagreed with, ignored, or had not yet read the official briefing document based on McColl's investigation.