Starmer criticises ‘appalling' Israel over Gaza
The Prime Minister said the region was experiencing 'dark days' and labelled the conduct of Benjamin Netanyahu's government as 'appalling'.
His comments come after the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, an Israeli and US-backed group, paused food deliveries at its three distribution hubs in Gaza on Wednesday, after health officials said at least 27 Palestinians had been killed in a series of shootings near the sites this week.
Sir Keir told the House of Commons on Wednesday afternoon that Israel's approach in Gaza was 'counterproductive' and repeated his calls for a ceasefire.
He also raised the possibility of the UK imposing sanctions on Israel.
The issue was raised during Prime Minister's Questions by Claire Hanna, the leader of Northern Ireland's Social Democratic and Labour Party, who said that 'these are very dark days and Gaza is a stain on the soul of humanity'.
Sir Keir said: 'She's absolutely right to describe this as dark days. Israel's recent action is appalling and in my view counterproductive and intolerable and we have strongly opposed the expansion of military operations and settler violence and the blocking of humanitarian aid.
'You will have seen we've suspended the FTA (free trade agreement) talks and sanctioned extremists supporting violence in the West Bank.
'We will keep looking at further action along with our allies including sanctions, but let me be absolutely clear, we need to get back to a ceasefire.
'We need the hostages who've been held for a very long time to be released, and we desperately need more aid at speed and at volume into Gaza because it's an appalling and intolerable situation.'
Sir Keir's comments risk reigniting a war of words with Mr Netanyahu, who recently accused him and other world leaders of siding with Hamas.
In May, a joint statement issued by the UK, France and Canada criticised Israel for expanding its ground operation in Gaza and for preventing aid from entering the war-torn strip.
The statement warned: 'If Israel does not cease the renewed military offensive and lift its restrictions on humanitarian aid, we will take further concrete actions in response.'
It prompted a furious response from Mr Netanyahu who, speaking after a deadly attack on Israeli embassy staff in Washington, said: 'I say to president Macron, prime minister Carney and prime minister Starmer, when mass murderers, rapists, baby killers and kidnappers thank you, you're on the wrong side of justice.'
The issue was also raised during PMQs by Sir Ed Davey, the leader of the Liberal Democrats, who asked Sir Keir whether he will 'push at the UN Security Council for humanitarian corridors to get the desperately needed aid urgently into Gaza'.
Sir Ed told the Commons: 'I welcome the remarks of the Prime Minister on Gaza because I'm sure all of us are appalled by the latest scenes – starving people desperate for food, water and medicine met with chaos and violence.
'The US-Israeli programme is clearly failing and nothing short of lifting the full blockade on aid will do, but given the Netanyahu government refuses to do that, will the Prime Minister take more decisive action today? Will he push at the UN Security Council for humanitarian corridors to get the desperately needed aid urgently into Gaza?'
Sir Keir said the Government was 'working at pace with our allies on that very issue, to take whatever measures we can to get that humanitarian aid in'.
'We'll continue to do that because that aid needs to get in at speed and at volume,' he added.
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