PMQs: Rishi Sunak urged to back call for Israel and Gaza ceasefire

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is being urged to call for a ceasefire to protect civilians in Israel and Gaza.

More than 40 MPs have backed the calls to prevent further loss of life and allow access to medicines, food, fuel and water to Gaza.

During PMQs, SNP Westminster leader Stephen Flynn asked Mr Sunak if he would join calls for an immediate ceasefire.

In response, the prime minister said Israel had "a right to defend itself".

"We believe that Israel does have a right to defend itself, to protect its people, and to act against terrorism and ensure that the awful attack that we've seen from Hamas cannot happen again," he told MPs.

"Unlike Hamas, the Israelis, including the president, have made it clear that their armed forces will operate in accordance with international law.

"And we will continue to urge the Israelis to take every precaution to avoid harming civilians."

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Later, the PM's official spokesman said Mr Sunak does not think it is the right time for a ceasefire, as Israel is working to "recover hostages who have been seized by a terrorist organisation".

Speaking in the Commons, Foreign Secretary James Cleverly said "all reasonable people" wanted the situation to be resolved quickly but that Israel was "forced to engage [in the conflict] because of the mass murder in their country".

He added: "Calls for ceasefires are all well and good but I have seen nothing which leads me to believe Hamas would respect calls for a ceasefire."

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Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said MPs must "strive to speak with one voice in condemnation of terror, in support of Israel's right to self-defence", as well as backing humanitarian access to those suffering in Gaza and the upholding of international law.

He added that medicines, food, fuel and water must be allowed into Gaza immediately.

Asked if Sir Keir supported calls for a ceasefire, a spokesman for the Labour leader said: "We have repeatedly said that Israel has the right to defend itself and has the right to act to retrieve hostages."

Labour MP Richard Burgon has laid a parliamentary motion calling for an immediate ceasefire, the release of Israeli hostages, and "unfettered access" to humanitarian aid for civilians.

The motion is supported by more than 25 Labour MPs, former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, who now sits as an independent, as well as MPs from other parties including the Conservatives, the Scottish National Party and Plaid Cymru.

Aid agencies and United Nations general secretary Antonio Guterres have also called for a ceasefire in the region and for emergency supplies to be allowed into Gaza.

Mr Sunak said it was right to support the Palestinian people "because they are victims of Hamas too".

The PM highlighted an extra £10m of UK humanitarian aid which has been announced, and said he had also raised humanitarian access in "all of my conversations, as a priority, with every leader in the region".

British officials are working to secure the opening of the Rafah crossing to allow UK citizens to flee to Egypt and for humanitarian aid to get into Gaza.

It comes after an explosion at a hospital in Gaza City on Tuesday, which killed nearly 500 people, according to Palestinian health officials.

Hamas said the blast was caused by an Israeli air strike but the Israeli military say it was the result of a failed rocket launch by Palestinian Islamic Jihad - an accusation the militant group rejected.

Mr Sunak said British intelligence services had been working rapidly to independently establish who was behind the blast.

He urged MPs not to "rush to judgment before we have all the facts on this awful situation".

Israeli warplanes and artillery have been bombarding Gaza in response to an unprecedented attack on Israel on 7 October by the main Palestinian militant group, Hamas, which killed 1,300 people.

More than 3,000 people have been reported killed by strikes on Gaza.

Since Hamas's deadly attacks, Israel has blocked fuel, water, food and medical supplies from entering the territory and is demanding the release of scores of hostages taken into Gaza by the militants.

Mr Sunak said the UK was working "round the clock" to free hostages taken by Hamas.

At least seven British nationals have been confirmed dead following the attack on Israel.

Downing Street said nine more UK nationals remained missing.