Israeli President Herzog Expected to Visit UK Amid Gaza Conflict Controversy

Israeli President Isaac Herzog is scheduled to visit the UK next week, where he is expected to meet government ministers amid rising tensions over the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and the UK’s impending recognition of Palestinian statehood. Herzog's visit has sparked controversy because of his previous statements attributing collective responsibility to all Palestinians in Gaza for the Hamas attack in 2023, remarks widely condemned as genocidal by human rights organizations and cited by the International Court of Justice. This visit follows secret meetings earlier this year between senior Israeli officials and British counterparts, which have drawn criticism for lack of transparency and have occurred despite ongoing allegations of war crimes against Israeli leadership, including an ICC arrest warrant for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Herzog, who comes from a different political party than Netanyahu, has nonetheless broadly supported Israel's military actions in Gaza. The visit occurs at a time when UK domestic politics are fraught, with Labour figures and MPs expressing outrage over Britain's perceived insufficient response to the conflict and the government's decision to recognize Palestinian statehood. Downing Street has not officially confirmed details of Herzog’s meetings, reflecting the diplomatic sensitivity surrounding this high-profile visit.