Today's Gaza debate comes after a cross-party group of MPs returned from a visit to Al-Arish, an aid hub in Egypt, around 45km (28 miles) from the tightly controlled Rafah crossing into Gaza.

Members of the International Development Committee also visited a large hospital caring for injured Palestinians.

The committee chair, Labour MP Sarah Champion, says “nothing that has been reported braces you for the true scale of the horror in Gaza".

“Politicians around the world need to demand an immediate end to the violence, full access for aid and a long term strategy to rebuild Gaza; both its infrastructure and its society,” she said.

Image source, PA Media

As MPs prepare to vote on calls for a ceasefire in the Israel-Gaza conflict, Prince William has issued a call for an "end to the fighting as soon as possible".

He has spoken of the "terrible human cost of the conflict in the Middle East since the Hamas terrorist attack".

He said "too many have been killed" and spoke of the "desperate need for increased humanitarian support to Gaza" and for hostages to be released.

A spokeswoman for the prime minister, asked whether he agreed with Prince William's assessment of the Israel-Hamas war, told reporters: "Yes, his comments echo those that you have heard previously from the prime minister as well."

Read more about Prince William’s comments here.

Image source, Reuters

Today’s vote in the House of Commons on calls for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza comes as Israel threatens to send troops into Rafah, defying international opposition.

Its government says that unless Hamas frees all hostages held in Gaza by 10 March an offensive will be launched.

More than a million displaced Palestinians, who represent about half of Gaza's population, are sheltering in the southern city. Many are living in makeshift shelters or tents in squalid conditions, with scarce access to safe drinking water or food.

Last night, the US vetoed an Algerian-proposed resolution at the UN demanding an immediate ceasefire in Gaza. In its own draft resolution, urging a temporary ceasefire, the US warns Israel not to invade Rafah.

Israel launched its operations in Gaza following an attack by Hamas gunmen on southern Israel on 7 October, during which about 1,200 people were killed and more than 240 others taken hostage.

The Israeli military campaign has killed 29,000 people in Gaza, according to the Hamas-run health ministry there.

Image source, PA Media

Health Secretary Victoria Atkins this morning said the government’s motivation behind putting forward its amendment to the SNP motion on the Israel-Gaza war was “consistency”, and called the stance of opposition parties "naive".

"We the government have put an amendment down because we are clear we have this consistent policy in Gaza and towards Israel," Atkins told Times Radio.

"We are not interested in, frankly, pretty politically naive parliamentary procedures that Labour and others seem to be indulging in," she said.

She said the government wanted the war to end, but with “conditions related to hostages and Hamas in power".

Labour's Lisa Nandy says the party has two main concerns with the SNP motion calling for a ceasefire.

She tells BBC Radio 4's Today programme the SNP motion “doesn’t lay out any kind of political horizon to make ceasefire achievable or sustainable".

Secondly, Nandy says the SNP motion doesn’t make clear that the term “ceasefire” must be observed by both sides.

“Any country would expect the right to defend its own citizens, to rescue its hostages, and we have been absolutely crystal clear in our motion what we mean by it,” she says.

When pushed, Nandy won’t say whether Labour MPs will end up abstaining on the vote if their amendment is not chosen.

There’s currently a small protest outside Labour’s headquarters in London this morning.

It was organised by the group London for a Free Palestine, which has been urging the party to "call for an immediate, permanent and unconditional ceasefire".

Images posted on social media show a long white banner reading "Full Ceasefire Now" being held up by people on the side of the road.

Some protesters can be seen wearing masks of members of the Labour front bench – including leader Sir Keir Starmer and deputy leader Angela Rayner.

With a busy afternoon of debate over the war in Gaza ahead in the Commons, let’s take a look at what MPs will actually be voting on:

• The SNPs motion calls for an “immediate ceasefire” in Gaza, saying it is the “only way to stop the slaughter of innocent civilians”. It also condemns the “collective punishment” of Palestinians. If passed, the opposition day motion would be non-binding on the government
• Labour has proposed an amendment to this motion, which similarly calls for a ceasefire, but emphasises more the role of Hamas as well as Israel in bringing about a lasting pause in fighting
• Meanwhile, a separate government amendment calls for an “immediate humanitarian pause”, backs Israel’s “right to self-defence”, and supports moves "towards a permanent sustainable ceasefire"

As we've been telling you, we will find out later this morning which amendment (and it will likely be only one) goes to the floor of the Commons for a vote.

Image source, PA Media

Lisa Nandy, Labour's shadow secretary for international development, says she recognises that her party's position on Gaza - now calling for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire - has changed a lot in just a few days.

“It is a significant step and not one we’ve taken lightly,” she told Radio 4’s Today programme this morning.

She explained what led to the party reconsidering its stance, saying: “In November, there was every reason to believe that what was achievable was a humanitarian pause to get aid in, hostages out and to create the space to begin negotiations towards a sustainable ceasefire.

“But what has changed since then is that the humanitarian situation in Gaza has collapsed, the military efforts to rescue the hostages have largely failed and there are growing concerns about the deterioration of the health of the remaining hostages, and a ground invasion of Rafah is imminent.”

She added that the change in language reflected that of the UK’s Five Eyes allies - Australia, Canada and New Zealand.

This vote is rooted in domestic politicspublished at 10:31 Greenwich Mean Time 21 February

10:31 GMT 21 February

Chris Mason
Political editor

Today’s debates at Westminster over the UK’s outlook on the Israel-Gaza conflict are rooted in domestic politics.

The Scottish National Party plan to use today to set out what they see as their distinctive position on the Israel Gaza conflict – their desire, going back some time, for an "immediate ceasefire".

They see themselves as "Westminster’s conscience" on the issue.

The SNP are keenly aware of the political tussle they currently confront: a resurgent Labour Party which threatens their dominance in Scotland and threatens to snaffle a considerable number of current SNP seats at the general election.

So, pointing out points of difference with Labour is key and they profoundly believe Labour has been in the wrong place for too long, in hugging the government's position very closely and explicitly avoiding calling for an immediate ceasefire.

Labour, meanwhile, believe they have a duty to act as a government in waiting and behave as they would if they were in government.

But, confronted by today, Labour had a choice to make.

Read more from Chris Mason here

Henry Zeffman
Chief political correspondent

The question of which amendment or amendments are voted on is one for Sir Lindsay Hoyle, the Commons Speaker, who will make a decision this morning.

He will take advice from his clerks on what to do, in accordance with Commons conventions.

Some procedural experts believe it is most likely that Sir Lindsay will select only the government amendment.

But it's very unusual for both the government and the main opposition party to be seeking to amend another opposition party’s motion - and as we saw in the fraught Brexit years, conventions are flexible.

Image source, UK Parliament

How the day plays out will depend on the choices made by Sir Lindsay Hoyle - the Commons Speaker.

This is because the government has put its own amendment to the SNP motion, calling for "an immediate humanitarian pause".

It's up to Hoyle to choose which amendment to pick - and given there is a government motion it's less likely he will choose the Labour one for debate. This threatens to expose Labour splits over the issue.

So, all eyes on Hoyle.

Image source, PA Media

As we’ve been reporting, MPs will vote later today on the SNP’s call for an immediate ceasefire in the Israel-Gaza war.

It is the second such motion tabled by the party. The previous vote, in November, saw ten Labour frontbenchers quit to support the SNP’s position.

Now, Labour is for the first time since the conflict broke out calling for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza - language it will pose as an amendment, or change, to the SNP’s.

"We do have that broad consensus now for an immediate ceasefire, although the odd word is different," SNP Westminster leader Stephen Flynn told BBC Breakfast this morning.

"Yesterday, I was pleased that after months and months of public and parliamentary pressure… the leader of the Labour party Sir Keir Starmer has changed his position," he added.

"It was long overdue, but it’s good to have that consensus on the opposition benches," Flynn said.

"That should put collective pressure on the UK government to change its stance."

More on the two parties’ stances here.

Hot on the heels of Prime Minister’s Questions, the Scottish National Party (SNP) will be using an opposition day vote, to call for an immediate ceasefire in the Israel-Gaza war.

Ten Labour frontbenchers quit in order to vote for the SNP's previous call for a ceasefire in November.

Labour has since shifted its position - saying for the first time there should be an immediate humanitarian ceasefire.

It's submitted an amendment to the SNP motion to try to avoid a repeat of the rebellion over the November vote.

The party’s position is now practically much closer to the SNP’s - but Labour’s amendment emphasises to a greater extent the role of Hamas, as well as Israel, in bringing about a lasting ceasefire.

Nathan Williams
Live reporter

Good morning and welcome to our coverage of a busy day in the world of politics.

We'll be covering Rishi Sunak taking questions at PMQs at midday, as well as a vote on the SNP's call for an "immediate ceasefire" in Gaza as part of an opposition day debate.

That won't take place until later this afternoon, but it has been the subject of days of debate – particularly when it comes to Labour.

The party has tabled its own amendment to the bill, which aims to appease some tension within its ranks.

But now that might not even see the light of day, after the government put forward its own amendment – threatening to expose Labour division over the issue.

You'll be able to follow events live by clicking the Play button at the top of the page.