In a speech addressing the ongoing war in Gaza and escalating tensions between Israel and Hezbollah, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer made an unfortunate verbal slip that quickly went viral on social media. During Tuesday's Labor Party conference, Starmer mistakenly called for the return of "sausages" instead of "hostages" when discussing Israelis held captive by Hamas.
"I call again for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza. The return of the sausages," Starmer declared, before quickly correcting himself to say "hostages."
Despite Starmer's immediate recovery from the slip-up, video clips of the error spread rapidly across various social media platforms, drawing attention away from the serious nature of his address.
After correcting his mistake, Starmer continued his speech, emphasizing the need for a peaceful resolution to the conflict. He called for "a recommitment to the two-state solution, a recognized Palestinian State alongside a safe and secure Israel."
Starmer's comments came amid heightened concerns over the Israel-Hezbollah situation, which has seen a marked increase in tensions over the past week. The Labour leader's address sought to articulate his party's position on the complex and evolving crisis in the region.
Sky News host Andrew Bolt commented on the incident, saying "Where are the great leaders of the West…Slip of the tongue, I've got it, but instantly it has made him a laughing stock around the world."
This gaffe adds to a series of other incidents involving political leaders, with the most recent being when US President Joe Biden called not to move on Haifa, instead of Rafah, in the context of the war in Gaza.
