AN acclaimed Scottish filmmaker has written to David Lammy over the Israeli foreign minister's secret visit to the UK.
I, Daniel Blake writer Paul Laverty wrote to the Foreign Secretary after it was revealed Gideon Sa'ar, a senior member of Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu's cabinet, was on a secret visit to London this week where he met with Lammy.
The meeting was not officially announced and was only confirmed when The National reached out to the Foreign Office, following reports of his visit in the Middle East Eye.
Yet on Friday it was revealed that Lammy personally informed the minister that he would not face an arrest warrant during his visit, leading the groups around the case to accuse the UK Government of "shielding" Sa'ar.
In an open letter on Friday, Laverty asked Lammy if during their meeting, "over tea and biscuits on your fine oak desk, [they discussed] the elephant sitting in the room, Genocide in Gaza?"
Laverty said the Foreign Secretary had "climbed the greasy pole" but that he would "come face to face again with your reputation, in the gutter" as he accused both Lammy and Prime Minister Keir Starmer of "giving political cover" to Israel.
The National has approached the Foreign Office for comment.
Read the full letter from Laverty below.
"Dear Foreign Secretary Mr Lammy,
"It is reported you met in secret with the Israeli Foreign Secretary Mr Gideon Sa'ar on the 16th of April. Did you by any chance, over tea and biscuits on your fine oak desk, discuss the elephant in the sitting room, Genocide in Gaza?
"Have you read the 800 page report and quite remarkable interactive platform prepared by Forensic Architecture. Here is the link in case it escaped your attention, and those of your staff.
"https://gaza.forensic-architecture.org/database
"This creative group of professionals are transparent about their rigorous methodology; carried out at Goldsmiths and headed by Israeli academic Eyan Weizman. It is one of the most impressive pieces of research of our times detailing with tens of thousands of data points, time and place, the course and pattern of the violence which they conclude proves genocide in Gaza is taking place NOW.
"Can you confirm whether you have studied it?
"If not, why not? If you have read it, why do you not denounce the Genocide as is your duty? If you don't think it amounts to genocide where do you think they got it wrong?
"Your statements at the dispatch box also showed clear ignorance of the details of the Genocide Convention. It is hard to figure out if it is wilful ignorance or collusion on your part. Or perhaps a toxic mix of both? Or perhaps you are a bit dim and not up to the job?
An open letter from writer Paul Laverty to Foreign Secretary David Lammy pic.twitter.com/0oohcXbPeo
— Ken Loach & Sixteen Films (@KenLoachSixteen) April 18, 2025
"Have you ever read the history of the Generals who implemented the dirty war in Argentina? It took decades but in the end they faced justice. So too those who murdered singer song writer Victor Jara in Chile. In their time these war criminals too thought impunity reigned supreme. One day the architects of these crimes in Gaza will have to face up to what they have done. I hope it will include you and Starmer for your collusion.
"British arms are still going to Israel, UK planes still flying over Gaza and presumably still giving intelligence to the IDF, and of course you and Starmer still giving political cover to them with a nod and a wink clearly indicating you have their back. This will not be forgotten.
"You have climbed the greasy pole, but one day Mr Foreign Secretary Lammy you will slide back to the bottom where you will come face to face again with your reputation, in the gutter.
"Shame on you and your party."
