Save the Children UK has defended its work after a social media post marking Sir Keir Starmer’s imminent exit from Downing Street drew criticism from the government.
In a post on X earlier this week, the charity suggested Starmer was complicit in the deaths of tens of thousands of Palestinians, including children, killed by Israeli forces.
It featured a mocked-up picture of a commemorative plaque, which read: “History will not forget complicity. Keir Starmer witnessed 73,000 Palestinians killed by Israeli forces, including 21,000 children, and kept supplying arms to Israel.”
The post’s text added: “This is your legacy on the occupied Palestinian territory, Prime Minister Keir Starmer. History will remember your complicity.
“Despite a partial arms suspension in 2024, Keir Starmer’s government has continued to enable Israel’s atrocities against Palestinians, their families and children through the supply of F-35 fighter jet parts.”
The post said the next Prime Minister has an “opportunity to put an end to the government’s role as an ally to atrocities”.
Starmer’s government restricted arms sales to Israel in 2024 but did not implement a complete suspension.
Third Sector understands that Baroness Jenny Chapman, minister of state for international development and Africa, has met Moazzam Malik, chief executive of Save the Children UK, to discuss the post, which has more than 500,000 views.
A government source suggested to The Guardian that the post could increase anxiety among MPs already worried about their security as a result of former Conservative MP Ann Widdecombe’s death, which counter-terror police have described as a “targeted attack”.
“This is deeply irresponsible rhetoric from Save the Children at a time when MPs are already fearful for their safety,” the source told The Guardian.
George Graham, executive director of global impact at Save the Children UK, said the charity recognised this was a “divisive and sensitive issue”, adding: “The safety of parliamentarians and all those involved in making and shaping policy is paramount.”
But Graham said the charity’s ongoing campaign “aims to highlight this government’s political legacy of inaction and complicity”.
He said: “The government has taken some steps to try to advance the protection of Palestinian children, but these have fallen well below the UK’s moral and legal obligations.
“This stands in stark contrast to the active measures the government has taken on arms, accountability and trade in relation to Sudan and Ukraine, for example.”
Graham added: “The incoming government has an opportunity to take a new approach. It must end its complicity by suspending all arms sales to Israel, suspending the UK-Israel trade and partnership agreement, banning trade with illegal Israeli settlements and holding all perpetrators to account.”
The Foreign Office has been contacted for comment.