Suffering in Gaza is indefensible, says Keir Starmer

Sir Keir Starmer has condemned the “unspeakable and indefensible” humanitarian conditions in Gaza after aid groups warned of mass starvation in the territory.

In a statement, the prime minister said the situation had been “grave for some time” but it has “reached new depths”.

“We are witnessing a humanitarian catastrophe,” Sir Keir said.

He said he would hold an emergency call with Germany and France on Friday to discuss how to “stop the killing and get people the food they desperately need”.

Israel, which controls the entry of all supplies into Gaza, has said there was no siege and blamed Hamas for any cases of malnutrition.

There have been almost daily reports of Palestinians being killed while waiting for food since Israel partially lifted an 11-week total blockade on aid deliveries in May, following a two-month ceasefire.

Israel, along with the US, helped to establish a controversial new aid system run by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), but food and medicine shortages have worsened.

The World Health Organization has said that a quarter of Gaza’s population is facing famine-like conditions, according to its assessments.

Israel has accused Hamas of instigating conflict near aid sites, and said its troops have only fired warning shots and do not intentionally shoot civilians.

On Monday, the UK joined 27 other countries in calling on Israel to “immediately lift restrictions” on the flow of aid, adding its aid delivery model was dangerous and deprived Gazans of “human dignity”.

Sir Keir has faced recent pressure from some Labour MPs to take a stronger line on Israel, including calls for the government to change its position and recognise a Palestinian state.

The government said it would only do so as part of a long-term political solution to the conflict in the Middle East.

In a statement on Thursday evening, Sir Keir reiterated the “pressing need for Israel to change course”.

He went on to repeat his calls for an immediate ceasefire in the conflict, and for Hamas to “unconditionally” release all remaining hostages.

Adding that Palestinians had an “inalienable right” to statehood, he added a ceasefire would “put us on a path to the recognition of a Palestinian state and a two-state solution”.

President Emmanuel Macron said on Thursday that France would officially recognise a Palestinian state in September.

It comes after the United States joined Israel earlier on Thursday in recalling its negotiators from Gaza ceasefire talks in Qatar.

Israeli and Hamas delegations have been meeting in Doha for more than two weeks, but the talks have failed to make a breakthrough.

US special envoy Steve Witkoff blamed Hamas for the lack of a deal, adding that Washington would consider “alternative options to bring the hostages home”.

The UK has been gradually stepping up action against Israel since its military escalation in Gaza earlier this year, suspending trade talks with Israel in May and imposing fresh sanctions on West Bank settlers.