Sir Keir Starmer says Gaza ceasefire not ‘correct position’ now

The Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke to Rishi Sunak by phone this afternoon, who said the UK backed Israel’s right to defend itself against terrorism, but stressed the importance of “all possible measures to minimise civilian casualties”.

The Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer, who’s been facing growing tensions within his party ranks, also backed calls for a humanitarian pause in the fighting to allow in aid, and for hostages to be freed. He said that was the “only credible approach”.