Keir Starmer Condemns Israel’s Escalation Of Gaza Offensive With Bleak ‘Bloodshed’ Warning

Keir Starmer has slammed Israel’s decision to escalate its war in Gaza with an expanded military offensive and take over Gaza city.

Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced overnight that his security cabinet had approved of a plan to seize the largest city in the enclave where hundreds of thousands live. 

Despite significant opposition from within Israel, Netanyahu has insisted this is the only way to end the war.

In a statement released on Friday morning, the UK prime minister said this was the “wrong” choice, adding: “We urge it to reconsider immediately.

“This action will do nothing to bring an end to this conflict or to help secure the release of the hostages. It will only bring more bloodshed.”

The PM said the humanitarian crisis in Gaza is “worsening” by the day, while the hostages taken by Hamas “are being held in appalling and inhuman conditions.”

He called once more for an increase in humanitarian aid, and a negotiated two-state solution – without Hamas.

Starmer said: “Together with our allies, we are working on a long-term plan to secure peace in the region as part of a two-state solution, and ultimately achieve a brighter future for Palestinians and Israelis.

“But without both sides engaging in good faith in negotiations, that prospect is vanishing before our eyes. Our message is clear: a diplomatic solution is possible, but both parties must step away from the path of destruction.”

The UK prime minister recently announced his plans to formally recognise Palestinian statehood in September, unless Israel takes significant steps towards peace – which seems very unlikely after this new announcement.

Netanyahu outlined five principles for ending the war: the disarmament of Hamas; the return of all the militants’ captives both dead and alive; demilitarisation of Gaza and Israeli security control over the territory; and the existence of an alternative civilian government that is neither Hamas nor the Palestinian Authority.

“An absolute majority of cabinet ministers believed that the alternative plan presented to the cabinet would not achieve the defeat of Hamas or the return of the abductees,” his statement said.

According to the UN, 87% of Gaza is already in militarised zones or under evacuation orders – including some refugee camps where much of the population is concentrated after more than a year of Israel’s attacks.

Liberal Democrat Leader Ed Davey called on Starmer to “take decisive action”.

He said: “Netanyahu’s plans to occupy the whole of Gaza are utterly abhorrent – and it’s increasingly clear that his goal is ethnic cleansing.

“This plan will only serve to wreak more devastation on the lives of millions of Gazans – whose homes and communities have already been destroyed – while endangering the lives of those hostages still held by Hamas.

“Rather than sitting on its hands and issuing strongly worded statements, the UK government needs to take decisive action. Keir Starmer needs to stop the export of all UK arms to Israel – today – and sanction Netanyahu and his cabinet.”