• UK PM Keir Starmer criticized Israel's actions in Gaza during a meeting with President Herzog.
• The meeting followed Israel's airstrike targeting Hamas leaders in Qatar, condemned by Starmer.
• Both leaders acknowledged significant disagreements, marking a tense diplomatic moment.
• Starmer expressed concern over the humanitarian crisis and urged for changes in Israeli policy.
• Thousands protested Herzog’s visit, highlighting discontent with UK-Israel relations.

Israeli President Isaac Herzog met with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer at Downing Street for a tense discussion amid rising tensions globally regarding the Gaza situation. Both leaders planned to express criticisms of recent actions taken by each other's governments, particularly focusing on the escalating conflict and its humanitarian consequences, according to Reuters and Middle East Eye.

During the meeting, Starmer condemned Israel's recent airstrike in Qatar, aimed at Hamas leaders, labeling it "unacceptable." He stressed that Israel must "stop the man-made famine from worsening further by letting aid in and halting their offensive operations," reinforcing the UK's longstanding diplomatic ties despite their differences, according to Reuters and TRT Global.

In a follow-up event, Herzog acknowledged that he had "argued out of respect" with Starmer, indicating that strong points of disagreement were voiced during their discussion. He insisted that both leaders agreed on certain threats, including the necessity to eliminate Hamas, yet differed on how to achieve their goals, referencing Starmer's push for Palestinian statehood and humanitarian aid in Gaza, according to Middle East Eye and Al Jazeera.

Herzog's visit to the UK also faced significant backlash, with thousands of protestors demonstrating outside Downing Street, calling for an end to support for what they termed a genocide in Gaza. Commentators noted that the public outcry against Herzog's presence highlighted the strained relationship between the Israeli government and the British public as they grapple with the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza, reported by Al Jazeera and TRT Global.

As diplomatic relations continue to evolve, Starmer remains under pressure from within his party to adopt a firmer stance on Israel’s policies, especially concerning humanitarian access and the recognition of a Palestinian state at the upcoming United Nations General Assembly. This context underscores the complexity of the UK's diplomatic strategy and the internal debates surrounding it, according to Reuters and TRT Global.