Despite the United Kingdom’s harsh criticism of Israel’s handling of its war against Hamas, the British government does not think that Jerusalem is committing genocide in Gaza, The Times (U.K.) reported on Monday.

The position was revealed in a Sept. 1 letter that David Lammy, who was then the U.K. foreign secretary, penned to Sarah Champion, chair of the House of Commons’ international development committee.

Lammy wrote that the Foreign Office “has carefully considered the risk of genocide, including when permitting exports to the global F-35 program,” of which Israel is a member. He noted the “high civilian casualties” and “extensive destruction in Gaza,” which he said are “utterly appalling.”

The foreign secretary also quoted the Genocide Convention, which states that “the crime

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