Former UK ambassador to the United States Peter Mandelson privately described then-health secretary Wes Streeting's criticism of Israel as "wild" and "hysterical", according to newly released government documents that reveal divisions within Britain's ruling Labour Party over Gaza and Palestinian statehood.
The documents, published by the UK government on Monday, include exchanges between Mandelson and senior ministers in 2025 as Britain debated recognising a Palestinian state and responded to Israel's war on Gaza.
The files show text correspondence in which Streeting argued that Britain should recognise a Palestinian state and accused Israel of committing war crimes.
"Morally, because Israel is committing war crimes before our eyes. Their government talks the language of ethnic cleansing, and I have met with our own medics out there who describe the most chilling and distressing scenes of calculated brutality against women and children," Streeting wrote.
"This is rogue state behaviour. Let them pay the price as pariahs with sanctions applied to the state, not just a few ministers," he added.
Those messages were released by Streeting himself earlier this year.
Mandelson responded that recognising a Palestinian state could undermine efforts to achieve a two-state solution if it encouraged Israel to accelerate the annexation of the occupied West Bank, something he argued the United States would be powerless to reverse.
He suggested policymakers needed to "employ practical means" to achieve a two-state solution, adding that he did not make government policy and "only helps implement it".
Shortly afterwards, Mandelson criticised Streeting in private messages sent to cabinet minister and Work and Pensions Secretary Pat McFadden on 25 July 2025.
"I received a wild, long hysterical message from Wes about Israel," Mandelson wrote. "I pushed back. I can forward, but [it] reflects pretty badly on his maturity in my view."
McFadden replied: "He is very active on the MPs WhatsApp groups on this subject."
Days later, on 29 July, Mandelson sent McFadden a US State Department post rejecting an upcoming UN conference on a two-state solution, which Britain was participating in.
McFadden replied that Streeting had circulated a series of videos and a note to the entire cabinet ahead of the meeting.
Mandelson responded: "It is pathetic," adding: "I think Wes is experiencing an early midlife crisis."
The messages were among more than 1,000 pages of documents relating to Mandelson that were released by the government on Monday. Significant portions of the files remain redacted.
The documents provide a glimpse into discussions among senior Labour figures in the weeks before Britain formally recognised a Palestinian state in September 2025.
One exchange from 19 July showed McFadden writing that "the humanitarian situation in Gaza is [redacted]".
He added: "Keir not attracted to gestures but he might have no alternative," appearing to suggest ministers thought recognising a Palestinian statehood was the only choice given how bad the humanitarian situation in Gaza is.
Mandelson responded that "if we are not careful we won't get anywhere near that future", before reflecting on decades of failed attempts to achieve a two-state solution.
Britain, alongside Australia, Canada and Portugal, formally recognised a Palestinian state in September 2025, a move condemned by Israel.
Mandelson was sacked later that month following accusations that he leaked sensitive information to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, allegations he denies.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer faced sustained pressure over appointing Mandelson as ambassador. While Starmer later apologised for the appointment, he stopped short of resigning.