'Calling Israel's war in Gaza genocide undermines the word': UK foreign minister

British foreign minister David Lammyon Monday (Oct 28) said that calling the Israeli operation in Gaza a genocide "undermines the seriousness" of the term and past genocides.

While addressing the House of Commons, Nick Timothy, a Conservative MP, made the remarks saying, "There is obviously much suffering in Gaza, but this (Genocide) terminology is completely inappropriate."

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He further added that the term is “repeated by the protesters and lawbreakers who are intimidating British Jews, as we saw again this weekend”.

The video of the house showed as Timothy concluded his speech, Lammy stood up and said he agreed with the MP.

"I do agree with the honourable gentleman, those terms were largely used when millions of people lost their lives in crises like Rwanda, the Second World War, and the Holocaust."

"The way they (the term Genocide) are now used undermines the seriousness of that term."

Lammy's statement sparked outrage on social media as people on X corrected the minister saying Genocide has nothing to do with the number of deaths. Rather, "it’s the intent plus the acts of the perpetrator that matter."

ManyX users shared the UN Genocide convention to support their statement and said the human rights experts at the UN say that what is happening in Gaza "IS a genocide."

Calling his statement outrageous, an X user blamed Lammy for ignoring the law and rules despite him being a lawyer himself.

"Genocide is defined not by numbers but intent. As a lawyer, Lammy knows that. He is denying the seriousness of Israel's intent and actions," the user said.

(With inputs from agencies)