Keir Starmer says two-state solution is only viable route through Middle East conflict – UK politics live updates

Britain should do “all it might” to forestall a wider conflict within the Center East, Liberal Democrat chief Sir Ed Davey has mentioned.

Responding to the PM’s assertion on the anniversary of the 7 October assaults, Sir Ed mentioned: “We should always remember the trauma of the hostages and their households.

“In Tel Aviv, I met Itzik Horn, a father nonetheless praying for his two sons Gair and Eitan to return residence,” he mentioned, including that every little thing have to be carried out to make sure everybody takes the steps almost certainly to get the hostages residence rapidly and safely.

He added: “The final 12 months has seen horrible violence within the Center East, a humanitarian disaster in Gaza and an appalling spike in hate crimes right here within the UK, so we should stand agency towards antisemitism [and] Islamophobia.

“We should press for an instantaneous bilateral ceasefire to finish the horrible cycle of violence and convey about lasting peace and safety for each Israelis and Palestinians, and we should do all we will to forestall a regional conflict within the Center East.”

He continued: “I hope the federal government will attempt to persuade Israel that retaining her residents secure and safe is finest achieved by restraint, not retaliation, and the chance of regional conflict.”

Sir Keir Starmer replied: “The messaging may be very a lot de-escalation throughout the area.”

Sue Grey has resigned as Sir Keir Starmer’s chief of employees, saying that “intense commentary” round her place had change into a “distraction”.

The particular adviser turned a family title in 2022 when she headed a report into the Partygate scandal, criticising Boris Johnson and the Conservative authorities of the time.

Ms Grey was given the influential place of Downing Avenue chief when Labour got here into energy in July. Nonetheless, her resignation means she may have held the function for lower than 100 days.

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Suspended Labour MP Zarah Sultana has pushed Sir Keir Starmer to ban “all gross sales to Israel” following his assertion on the anniversary of seven October.

The MP for Coventry South mentioned: “In mild of Israel’s genocidal assault in Gaza, the violence within the West Financial institution and the invasion of Lebanon, I ask the prime minister if he believes that Israel proper to self-defence justifies a dying toll, which based on analysis by US medical professionals in Gaza, has now surpassed a 180,000.”

She then requested: “Will he do what’s morally and legally proper by ending the federal government complicity in conflict crimes by banning all arm gross sales to Israel together with F-35 fighter jets not simply 30 licenses, sure or no?”

Sir Keir bluntly responded: “No. Banning all gross sales would imply none for defensive functions.”

Ms Sultana has been a fierce critic of the prime minister, not solely on Israel’s conflict in Palestine. She was suspended after voting towards her social gathering chief on winter gasoline cost cuts.

Sir Keir Starmer mentioned assaults on Israel expose Iran’s “malign function” within the Center East, as he reiterated requires British residents to go away Lebanon.

In an announcement to the Commons, the Prime Minister mentioned: “We assist Israel’s proper to defend herself towards Iran’s aggression, consistent with worldwide regulation, as a result of let’s be very clear, this was not a defensive motion by Iran, it was an act of aggression and a serious escalation in response to the dying of a terrorist chief.

“It exposes, as soon as once more, Iran’s malign function within the area: they helped equip Hamas for the seventh of October assaults, they armed Hezbollah, who launched a year-long barrage of rockets on northern Israel, forcing 60,000 Israelis to flee their houses, and so they assist the Houthis, who mount direct assaults on Israel and proceed to assault worldwide delivery.”

He added: “I say once more, an essential message to British residents nonetheless in Lebanon, you should depart now.”

Sir Keir Starmer mentioned greater than 430 British residents had been introduced out of Lebanon on chartered flights up to now, as he pledged to guide requires a “political plan” in Lebanon.

He informed the Commons: “Within the weeks forward, we’ll proceed this work centered on three areas: firstly, Lebanon, the place our instant precedence is the protection of British residents, our group is on the bottom serving to to get folks out.

“We now have already introduced over 430 folks residence on chartered flights, and we stand prepared with extra evacuation efforts as essential.”

“We’ll proceed to guide requires an instantaneous ceasefire and the return to a political plan for Lebanon based mostly on safety council decision 1701 which requires Hezbollah to withdraw north of Litani River. They need to cease firing rockets and finish this now so that folks on either side of the border can return to their houses,” he added.

Sir Keir additionally urged Israel to permit extra support into Gaza: “The continuing restrictions on support are inconceivable to justify. Israel should open extra crossings.”

He added: “Crucially, they have to present a secure haven for support employees. Too many have been killed, together with three British residents. Israel should act now in order that, along with our allies, we will surge humanitarian assist forward of the winter.”

Sir Keir Starmer has pledged to make use of the “energy of diplomacy” to “minimise the struggling on the bottom” within the Center East.

Concluding his assertion to the Commons on the anniversary of Hamas’s assault on Israel, Sir Keir mentioned: “No person on this Home can really think about what it feels wish to cower beneath the our bodies of your mates hoping a terrorist gained’t discover you, mere minutes after dancing at a music pageant.

“No person on this Home can really think about seeing your metropolis, your houses, your colleges, your hospitals, your companies obliterated, together with your neighbours and household buried beneath.

“It’s past our comprehension, and with that ought to come a humility. It’s exhausting even to know the total depth of this ache, however what we will do is bear in mind. What we will do is respect and take heed to the voices that attain out to us at these moments.

“And what we will do is use the ability of diplomacy to attempt to discover sensible steps that minimise the struggling on the bottom and work in direction of that long-term resolution so {that a} 12 months of this horrible and bloody battle can by no means occur once more.”

The Home of Commons has echoed Sir Keir Starmer’s assertion in regards to the scenario within the Center East and the 7 October assault.

However Labour MP Clive Betts pressed the prime minister over feedback from Benjamin Netanyahu saying he doesn’t settle for the two-state resolution as a purpose.

In response, Sir Keir mentioned it was essential to be ‘“very clear” that the two-state resolution was “the one viable long-term route by way of this battle”.

Rishi Sunak has responded from Sir Keir Starmer’s assertion from the oppostion.

The Tory chief paid tribute to the hostages in Gaza and their households and welcomed the prime minister’s efforts to evacuate Brits trapped in Lebanon.

The prime minister has urged Israel to resume effors for a ceasefire in Gaza, Palestine.

He known as for extra reduction for civilians, claiming that ongoing restrictions on age are “inconceivable to justify”.

Sir Keir Starmer added: “Crucially, they have to present a secure haven for support employees. Too many have been killed, together with three British residents. Israel should act now in order that, along with our allies, we will surge humanitarian assist forward of the winter.”

He additionally urged for long-term options and championed for a two-state resolution as the final word purpose.

“That’s what MPs have carried out, and what the federal government will proceed to do,” he mentioned.

Sir Keir Starmer has declared his dedication to “stand towards hatred” in direction of non secular communities within the UK.

He informed the Commons: “We stand with all communities right here in the UK towards hatred of Jews and Muslims.

“As a result of any assault on a minority is an assault on our delight values of tolerance and respect and we is not going to stand for it.”