Senior British MP says US ambassador to Israel is 'clearly an idiot'

A senior Labour MP has said the US ambassador to Israel is "clearly an idiot" after he criticised the UK's opposition to Israel's plan to occupy Gaza city.

Emily Thornberry, the chair of the parliamentary Foreign Affairs Committee, which scrutinises British foreign policy, made the comment in a post on X on Sunday.

It came after British Prime Minister Keir Starmer condemned the Israeli government's decision to "further escalate its offensive in Gaza".

According to Israeli media reports, the government's planned occupation of Gaza City will begin with the mass expulsion of around one million Palestinians from the city, followed by a siege and ground invasion.

Starmer said in an official statement: "This action will do nothing to bring an end to this conflict or to help secure the release of the hostages. It will only bring more bloodshed."

Read more: Senior British MP says US ambassador to Israel is 'clearly an idiot'