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.

Israel's plans to take over Gaza City are "wrong" and "will only bring more bloodshed", Sir Keir Starmer has said. The prime minister urged the Israeli government to immediately reconsider its decision "to further escalate its offensive in Gaza", after Benjamin Netanyahu's security cabinet approved the plans overnight by a majority vote.

The PM has said that Britain will recognise a Palestinian state in September unless Israel meets four conditions including ending the ‘starvation’ in Gaza, a ceasefire, and moves towards a two-state s