The UK government is calling on Israel to show “restraint” as tensions rise in the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas. Labour leader Keir Starmer has warned that the “sparks” from the Middle Eastern crisis could ignite tensions within UK communities.
The conflict, which approaches its one-year mark on October 7, saw Israeli airstrikes hit Lebanon’s capital on Saturday night after days of targeting Hezbollah strongholds. Meanwhile, Gaza’s civil defense reported 24 people killed and many more injured in an Israeli strike on a mosque early Sunday. Over 100 Israeli hostages taken during last year’s attacks remain captive.
UK cabinet minister Peter Kyle, while not ruling out potential UK military assistance to Israel in the event of an attack on Iran, emphasized that any such action would depend on “delicate negotiations.” He further noted Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s consultations with international allies, including US President Joe Biden and French President Emmanuel Macron, all of whom advised Israel to exercise restraint.
Appearing on the BBC’s Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg, Kyle emphasized the importance of restraint and a ceasefire to open the way for political negotiations, stating, “The war is deepening and not moving toward the peace we need.”
In a Sunday Times article, Prime Minister Sunak condemned the rising “vile hatred” against Jews and Muslims since the October 7 attacks and stressed the need for a return to political, rather than military, solutions in the region. He warned that the conflict could spread throughout the region and affect communities in the UK.
Foreign Secretary Andrew Mitchell echoed calls for de-escalation, while independent MP Zarah Sultana rejected any UK involvement in military action against Iran. Criticizing British foreign policy in the region, Sultana highlighted public opposition to arms sales to Israel and strong support for holding Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accountable for alleged war crimes.