Sir Keir Starmer has emphasized that a two-state solution remains the “only viable long-term route” to resolving the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza.
Speaking in the House of Commons on the anniversary of the 7 October attacks, the Prime Minister reiterated Britain’s support for the Jewish people while calling for efforts to minimize the suffering of Palestinian civilians on the ground.
In his address, Starmer urged Israel to push for a renewed ceasefire and vowed to use the “power of diplomacy” to help alleviate the crisis. He described the ongoing situation in Gaza as a “living nightmare” for the Palestinian people and emphasized the need for more humanitarian relief efforts.
While addressing the broader implications of the conflict, Starmer’s speech follows significant political shifts within his own party. Just a day earlier, Sue Gray, Starmer’s chief of staff, stepped down, citing concerns that her presence had become a distraction ahead of Rachel Reeves’s highly anticipated budget.
Gray’s exit sparked internal discussions, with some figures, such as Labour MP Rosie Duffield, claiming that Starmer might have a “woman problem” within the party.
However, Downing Street dismissed these accusations. A No 10 spokesperson firmly responded, “I wouldn’t accept that characterisation at all,” as Starmer quickly replaced Gray with Morgan McSweeney.
Starmer Calls For Renewed Diplomatic Efforts
Meanwhile, the discussion in the Commons took a more international turn as Scottish National Party leader Stephen Flynn called on Starmer to confirm that Britain would have no involvement — whether personnel, facilities, or airbases — in any Israeli military response to recent tensions with Iran. Flynn referenced an “abhorrent” attack on Israel by Iran the previous week.
While Starmer refrained from discussing specific British capabilities, he highlighted Britain’s past support for Israel’s self-defense. He mentioned the country’s response to missile attacks in April, stating, “That is the support that we did provide and would always be prepared to provide.”
Moreover, Sir Ed Davey, leader of the Liberal Democrats, echoed concerns about the escalating situation, calling for Britain to do “all it can” to prevent a wider war in the Middle East.
He recalled a meeting with Itzik Horn, a father in Tel Aviv who still hopes for the safe return of his two sons, Gair and Eitan, taken hostage during the conflict. Davey stressed the urgency of securing the hostages’ release and ending the cycle of violence.
“The last year has seen terrible violence in the Middle East,” Davey said, “with a humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza and a worrying rise in hate crimes in the UK. We must stand firm against antisemitism [and] Islamophobia.”
Davey’s message of restraint was echoed in his plea for the UK government to encourage Israel toward restraint, warning of the risks of regional escalation. He noted, “The risk of regional war looms large, and we must do all we can to de-escalate the tensions.”
Starmer concluded his remarks by supporting the broader message of de-escalation across the region, signaling a united front on the need to prevent further conflict.
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