Sir Keir Starmer has warned Israel there can be “no more excuses”, demanding that more aid is allowed into Gaza.
The Prime Minister said there must be an “immediate ceasefire” as he delivered his first speech to the UN General Assembly in New York. He also warned Israel against a potential invasion of Lebanon and described the Middle East as a region “at the brink” of war.
In a separate round of interviews, Sir Keir said the situation was deteriorating “hour on hour” and urged all Britons still in Lebanon to leave. He did not rule out deploying troops on the ground to evacuate stranded citizens if necessary after sending 700 extra soldiers to Cyprus.
Addressing the UN, the Prime Minister said: “We must face up to the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza that continues to deepen by the day.
“Israel must grant humanitarian access to civilians in line with its obligations under international humanitarian law. There can be no more excuses.
“Israel must open more crossings, allow vital, life-saving aid to flow and provide a safe environment for the UN and other humanitarian organisations to operate.”
Sir Keir described the civilian suffering in Gaza as “beyond belief” and said the fighting must “stop” immediately to allow more aid in. He also said that the UN Security Council must come up with a long-term plan to “break repeating cycles of violence” in the Middle East.
His comments represent some of his toughest rhetoric towards Israel’s actions to date as tensions continue to mount in the region. Israel has begun calling up reserve troops to send to its northern front as fears mount over a potential ground invasion of Lebanon.
The Prime Minister warned Israel against any potential invasion of Lebanon, which is the base for the Iranian-backed terrorist group Hezbollah. Hezbollah has launched regular rocket attacks over the border into Northern Israel and beyond, which Israel has responded to with air strikes.
“The region is at the brink,” Sir Keir said. “We need an immediate ceasefire between Israel and Lebanese Hizballah and the implementation of a political plan which allows Israeli and Lebanese civilians to return to their homes to live in peace and security.
“That security will come through diplomacy – not escalation. There is no military solution here. Nor is there a military-only solution to the conflict in Gaza.”
There are believed to be around 10,000 British citizens in Lebanon and officials have warned efforts to evacuate them would be fraught with danger.
Sir Keir also held talks with president Zelenskyy on the sidelines of the UN assembly. Afterwards a Downing Street spokesman said: “The Prime Minister met Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy at UNGA this afternoon.
“The two leaders had a productive meeting, with the Prime Minister paying tribute to the continued courage of the Ukrainian people in the face of Russian aggression.”
Sir Keir used the UN Security Council meeting to confront fellow permanent member Russia over its illegal invasion of Ukraine. In some of his most strident comments to date the Prime Minister accused Vladimir Putin of sending millions of Russian soldiers into a “meat grinder”.
He also accused Moscow of conducting the “kidnapping” of 20,000 Ukrainian children who have been forcibly deported to Russia.
“Six hundred thousand Russian soldiers have also been killed or wounded in this war. And for what?” the Prime Minister said.
“The UN Charter – which they sit here to uphold speaks of human dignity. Not treating your own citizens as bits of meat to fling into the grinder.
“There can be no equivocation here. There must be accountability. Aggression cannot pay. Borders cannot be redrawn by force.
“Russia started this illegal war. It must end it – and get out of Ukraine.”
