PRIME MINISTER STARMER SAYS IRAN SHOULD NOT RESPOND TO ISRAELI STRIKES – Israel struck back at Iran, saying it was in retaliation
Delivering a press conference at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Samoa, Prime Minister Keir Starmer addressed the recent escalations in the Middle East. Speaking in Apia, the Prime Minister reiterated that Israel had the right to defend itself, and called on Iran to not retaliate and added that the Israel-Palestinian conflict needed to de-escalate.
His comments came after Israel struck military sites in Iran, saying it was retaliating against Tehran’s strikes on Israel earlier this month.
Representatives of 56 countries, most with roots in Britain’s empire, attended CHOGM with slavery and the threat of climate change emerging as major themes. Britain’s King Charles, who flew out on Saturday, said on Friday that he understood “from listening to people across the Commonwealth how the most painful aspects of our past continue to resonate”.
The push for ex-colonial powers such as Britain to pay reparations or make other amends for slavery and its legacies today has gained momentum worldwide, particularly among the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and the African Union.
Those opposed to reparations say countries should not be held responsible for historical wrongs, while those in support say the legacy of slavery has led to vast and persistent racial inequality.
Starmer has rejected calls for reparations and ruled out apologising for the country’s historic role. He focussed instead on boosting trade with Commonwealth countries.
The meeting, held in Samoa’s capital city Apia, is the first full Commonwealth summit since the passing of Queen Elizabeth II in 2022.
