Israel's Netanyahu condemned over Gaza City plan - 'action will only bring more bloodshed'

Keir Starmer has condemned Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu's plans to occupy Gaza City, warning it will only "bring more bloodshed".

The Prime Minister hit back at the major escalation in the devastating conflict as "wrong" and urged the Israeli government to "reconsider immediately". On Thursday Netanyahu's war cabinet approved the decision to intensify its offensive in the 22 month-long conflict that has already claimed the lives of over 60,000 people in Gaza.

The move has provoked international condemnation, with Germany's Chancellor Friedrich Merz halting arms exports to Israel that could be used in the Strip. And it has prompted fears over the remaining 20 living hostages abducted by Hamas on October 7, 2023, and hanging onto life in Gaza's tunnels. It comes after Israel's Netanyahu 'completely lost it' with angry response to Mr Starmer.

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In a statement on Friday, Mr Starmer said: “The Israeli Government’s decision to further escalate its offensive in Gaza is wrong, and 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."

He added: “Every day the humanitarian crisis in Gaza worsens and hostages taken by Hamas are being held in appalling and inhuman conditions. What we need is a ceasefire, a surge in humanitarian aid, the release of all hostages by Hamas and a negotiated solution. Hamas can play no part in the future of Gaza and must leave as well as disarm. "

Mr Starmer, who has said the UK will recognise the state of Palestine in September if Israel does not agree to a ceasefire, said he was working with allies to secure peace in the region. But he warned: "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.”

Gaza’s hospitals on Friday recorded four new deaths “due to famine and malnutrition over the past 24 hours”, according to the enclave’s Health Ministry. The horror figures raised the total number of hunger-related deaths to 197, including 96 children.

The head of the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) says 12,000 children in Gaza are experiencing “acute malnutrition.” Israel’s war has killed at least 61,258 people and wounded 152,045. As many as 1,200 people were killed in Israel during the October 7, 2023, attacks, and 250 were taken captive. Just 20 of the remaining 50 hostages held in Gaza are believed to be alive.

Germany's Mr Merz said: “The even harsher military action by the Israeli army in the Gaza Strip, approved by the Israeli Cabinet last night, makes it increasingly difficult for the German government to see how these goals will be achieved. Under these circumstances, the German government will not authorize any exports of military equipment that could be used in the Gaza Strip until further notice.”

Volker Türk, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, also warned further escalation “will result in more massive forced displacement, more killing, more unbearable suffering, senseless destruction and atrocity crimes”.

Foreign Secretary David Lammy also said the situation in Gaza was of "great concern" as he met with the US Vice President at his official country residence Chevening House, in Kent. He said he would discussing the "developing situation" with JD Vance. He told reporters: "Of course we will be discussing the developing situation in Gaza, which is a great concern, and of course the ongoing war in Ukraine, and the desire to see that come to an end."

The Lib Dem leader Sir Ed Davey also responded, saying: "Netanyahu's plans to occupy the whole of Gaza are utterly abhorrent - and it's increasingly clear that his goal is ethnic cleansing." He also urged the PM "to stop the export of all UK arms to Israel - today - and sanction Netanyahu and his cabinet."

The SNP's Westminster Stephen Flynn also called for Parliament to be recalled for the summer holidays and immediately recognise Palestine "before it is brutally wiped off the map".

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