Stephen Flynn, the leader of the SNP in Westminster, says he condemns the "collective punishment of Palestinian people" and asks if the PM will "join with us and call for an immediate ceasefire in the region".

Sunak answers by saying: "We believe Israel does have a right to defend itself, to protect its people and to act against terrorism."

He says Israel has "made it clear" its forces would operate within international law and adds that the UK will continue to urge the Israelis "to take every precaution to avoid harming civilians".

Image source, UK Parliament

Andy Carter, Conservative MP for Warrington South, turns away from the conflict in Israel and Gaza to focus on high speed rail.

He asks the PM about the £12bn investment in the east-west high speed rail lines between Manchester and Liverpool, with laughter from the opposition benches.

He asks Sunak whether Warrington will benefit fully from the upgrade and whether a hub in the town remains a key part of the project.

Sunak confirms £12bn is being invested to allow for the delivery of the Northern Powerhouse rail.

Image source, UK Parliament

Sunak agrees that the Commons speaks with "one voice" in condemning Hamas for causing "untold suffering".

He emphasises that Israel has the right to defend itself and its people, and to act against "terrorism".

And he says it has promised to act in accordance with international law.

This is a crisis where lives hang in the balance, says Starmer, and the enemies of peace would like us to abandon our values.

Does the PM agree that this House should speak with one voice, he asks, against terror, in support of Israel's right to self-defence, and the maintenance of rule of international law?

Sunak says the UK must work to bring about a more peaceful, stable future in the region.

He adds that in all conversations with regional leaders, the government has emphasised their commitment to making progress on all avenues that could lead to peace.

We do not want this conflict to harm us here at home and do not want it to escalate in the Middle East, Starmer says.

He says a two-state solution feels more distant than ever but is the only way through.

Because hope is at its thinnest we must work our hardest to ensure the voices of division are side-lined and the hope of a political path to peace is maintained, he adds.

Sunak says all MPs can play their part in stamping out hate and division, and he is confident the police will act when violence or hate against Jews or Muslims is incited.

Image source, UK Parliament

Starmer speaks about the "disgusting" rise in antisemitism and an "appalling" surge in Islamophobia.

Does the PM agree, he asks, that every member of the House has a duty to work across the country to say that every British Muslim and Jew can live free from hate and discrimination in their own country?

The prime minister acknowledges an "acute humanitarian crisis" in Gaza is unfolding which the UK "must respond to".

Sunak says a further £10m in humanitarian aid for people in the region has been released, adding that the government is "pre-emptively moving aid" to areas where it can be used in Egypt.

He says Royal Navy ships have been moved to the region, also noting that he has raised humanitarian concerns during conversations with political leaders in the Middle East.

Starmer tells MPs he has met charities working in Gaza and heard their harrowing accounts of the crisis.

The people of Gaza are terrified of dying in the dark, he says, and reiterates that international law must be followed.

He says Hamas are not the Palestinian people and asks if the PM agrees that medicines, fuel and water must get into Gaza immediately.

Chris Mason
Political editor

Hello from the House of Commons.

An interesting moment as things were about to get under way a few minutes ago.

The former Prime Minister Theresa May brought the new Conservative MP Lisa Cameron into the chamber.

The former SNP MP — who defected last week — is now on the Tory benches, sitting between May and the Scottish conservative leader Douglas Ross.

Sunak says Israel has suffered a "shockingly brutal terrorist attack" and Hamas alone is responsible for this conflict.

He adds he will be meeting some of the families of the hostages taken, and the government will do everything it can to help get them home.

Starmer says that the blast at the hospital in Gaza takes places as people are still mourning Hamas's "terrorist attack" on Israel last week.

Starmer says he met the families of some of the hostages taken by Hamas, who are going through an "unimaginable agony".

Hamas would never had taken the hostages if they cared for civilian and Palestinians lives, he says, and calls on Hamas to release them immediately.

Sunak says he knows the whole House of Commons will be shocked by the "dreadful tragedy" at the hospital.

He says people should not rush to judgement before all the facts are known about the situation.

The PM adds the UK's intelligence services are "working at pace" with allies and to establish what happened, adding that he is not in a position to say more than this.

Image source, UK Parliament

Labour leader Keir Starmer says news of deaths at the Al Ahli Arab hospital in Gaza is incredibly distressing, but much worse for people of Gaza.

International law must be upheld and hospitals and civilian lives must be protected, he says.

He asks when the PM can update Parliament on the work to establish what happened.

Conservative MP Sajid Javid asks Sunak about whether action can be taken to revoke the visas of any foreign national found to be committing an act of antisemitism or any other hate crime in the wake of Hamas's attacks on Israel.

Sunak says the increase in incidents is "utterly sickening", adding that the government will do whatever it takes to keep British Jewish communities safe.

He says under existing immigration rules, the UK can cancel someone's presence in the country if it is "not conducive to the public good".

He says antisemitism is not acceptable, "not in this century, not in this country."

Image source, UK Parliament

Chris Law kicks off proceedings by asking whether the PM can give assurances that "every single step" has been taken to open the Rafah crossing in southern Gaza and let Palestinian residents leave the Strip.

PM Rishi Sunak says that everyone's thoughts are with the families affected by the events in Israel and Gaza and says that "everything in our power" is being done to ensure the safety of British nationals caught up in the situation.

Sunak also says dialogue to open the crossing continues both with the Israelis and the Egyptians.

Image source, UK Parliament

Sunak starts by referencing the blast at the Al Ahli Arab hospital in Gaza last night, and says the UK is working independently with allies to work out what happened.

Image source, UK Parliament

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is on his feet at the despatch box as this week’s PMQs begins.

He will take questions from Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer before hearing from other MPs.

Stay with us for the best lines, and you can watch along by tapping play at the top of the page.

It's just been confirmed there'll be an urgent question in the Commons from Labour's shadow foreign secretary David Lammy on the explosion at the Al Ahli hospital in Gaza City after PMQs.

Israel has blamed Palestinian Islamic Jihad for the blast, but Palestinian officials say it was caused by an Israeli airstrike.

We'll hear from a Foreign Office minister in response - and will bring it to you live.