September 04, 2025
JamRadio Newsdesk | Political Affairs | 4 September 2025
Newly elected Green Party leader Zack Polanski has ignited a political firestorm after responding to a smear campaign from Labour’s press team with a pointed tweet:
“I made a mistake – and apologised. I've never armed a genocide though.”
The tweet, posted on Tuesday evening, was a direct rebuttal to Labour’s resurfacing of a tabloid article about Polanski’s past. But rather than defend the details, Polanski flipped the narrative—accusing Labour of moral hypocrisy in light of the UK’s continued arms exports to Israel amid the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
I made a mistake - and apologised.
— Zack Polanski (@ZackPolanski) September 3, 2025
I've never armed a genocide though.https://t.co/0qbagSwgNX https://t.co/2Zo3nw76za
UK Accused of Complicity in Gaza Deaths
Polanski’s remarks come as international pressure mounts over the UK’s role in the conflict. Human rights organisations including Amnesty International UK and Médecins Sans Frontières have accused the British government of complicity in what they describe as genocidal acts in Gaza. Over 62,000 Palestinians have been killed since October 2023, with widespread destruction of civilian infrastructure, hospitals, and aid routes.
Despite growing calls for an arms embargo, Labour leader Keir Starmer has refused to support one, instead maintaining that Israel has a “right to self-defence.” Critics argue this stance amounts to tacit approval of disproportionate military action and collective punishment.
Starmer’s Foreign Policy Under Fire
Polanski’s tweet is the latest in a series of public challenges to Starmer’s leadership. In recent weeks, the Green leader has criticised Labour’s failure to condemn far-right rhetoric from Nigel Farage and its drift toward hardline immigration policies. His comments have resonated with activists and voters disillusioned by Labour’s centrist pivot.
“The challenge to the Labour government is: if you really want to stop Reform and the rise of the right, stop aping them,” Polanski said in a recent interview. “When Farage demonises migrants, Starmer can’t even criticise that—in fact, he implicitly gives it the nod.”
Refugee Crisis Looms as Gaza Burns
As the humanitarian situation in Gaza worsens, experts warn of a looming refugee crisis. If Palestinians are forced to flee en masse, the UK’s asylum system—already strained and politically charged—may face renewed pressure. Campaigners fear that the same government accused of enabling the destruction will then criminalise those seeking refuge.
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“Labour’s failure to act isn’t just a foreign policy issue,” said one legal advocate. “It’s a domestic time bomb. The refugee crisis will deepen, and the rhetoric will harden.”
A Defining Moment for Opposition Politics
Polanski’s tweet has been widely shared, with supporters praising its moral clarity and critics accusing him of political opportunism. But the underlying question remains: can Labour claim to lead with integrity while refusing to halt arms sales to a regime accused of war crimes?
For now, Polanski’s words continue to echo across social media and political circles:
“I’ve never armed a genocide.”
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