Prime minister says images from Gaza are “truly shocking” and calls for ceasefire agreement to be implemented in full.
LONDON — Keir Starmer said Wednesday that he is “deeply concerned” about Israel restarting military activity in Gaza and bringing the two-month ceasefire with Hamas to an abrupt conclusion.
Speaking in the House of Commons, the prime minister reiterated his support for the release of Israeli hostages held in Gaza since Hamas’ deadly Oct. 7, 2024 attacks.
But he warned: “I’m deeply concerned about the resumption of Israeli military action in Gaza.
“The images of parents carrying their children, young children, to hospitals that have emerged over the last few days are truly shocking alongside the sheer number of people who’ve been killed.
“We will do all that we can to ensure the resumption of the ceasefire to get the remaining hostages out and to get aid that is desperately needed in.”
Israel resumed extensive strikes on Gaza Tuesday morning, after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government accused Hamas of refusing to release the remaining hostages and as talks on the second phase of a ceasefire reached two weeks ago ran aground.
Hamas accused Israel in turn of having betrayed the ceasefire agreement, which had envisaged the permanent withdrawal of Israeli troops from the Gaza Strip.
Starmer’s spokesperson on Wednesday urged “all parties to return urgently to talks to implement the ceasefire agreement in full and work towards peace.”
They also refused to rule out the suspension of further British arms sales to Israel after some were suspended last September amid concern about their use in potential breaches of international humanitarian law.
“There is a process around arms sales … and a judgment taken in relation to that based on legal advice,” the spokesperson said. The spokesperson held the existing British government line that Israel’s actions in Gaza “are at clear risk of breaching international law” — but stressed that international courts will determine any breaches.
