Sir Keir Starmer has lashed out at the “utterly intolerable” actions by Israel in Gaza amid speculation that his government is set to announce new sanctions against Benjamin Netanyahu’s administration.
The prime minister’s strongest words yet came in the Commons just after he united with his French and Canadian counterparts to issue a stark warning to Mr Netanyahu to halt his “egregious” actions in Gaza.
Warning they will take “concrete actions” over the “intolerable” human suffering he is inflicting”, the prime minister, Emmanuel Macron and Mark Carney called for an immediate end to its military offensive and restrictions on humanitarian aid.
Speaking to MPs at the start of a statement to the Commons on Brexit, Sir Keir described the situation in Gaza as “horrific”.
He said: “I'd like to say something about the horrific situation in Gaza, where the level of suffering innocent children being bombed again, is utterly intolerable.
“Over the weekend, we coordinated a response with our allies and I want to put on record today that we're horrified by the escalation.
“From Israel, we repeat our demand for a cease fire as the only way to free the hostages. We repeat our opposition to settlements in the West Bank, and we repeat our demand to massively scale up humanitarian assistance into Gaza.”
Mr Netanyahu’s government said it would allow a “basic” amount of aid into Gaza to prevent a “hunger crisis” from developing, acknowledging there is international pressure from Israel’s allies on the issue.
But Sir Keir said that Israel’s announcement to allow “a basic quantity of food” through its blockade is not enough.
His words came ahead of a statement by foreign secretary David Lammy who is due to set out more measures.
However, patience was clearly running out among Labour MPs alarmed by the crisis in Gaza.
Former frontbencher Richard Burgeon told The Independent: “The government was right to introduce widespread sanctions on Russia following Putin’s unlawful invasion of Ukraine. It’s double-standards not to do the same in relation to Israel as they commit war crime after war crime against ordinary men, women and children in Gaza.
“Words won’t force Netanyahu to stop the war crimes. The government needs to act now by ending all arms sales, imposing economic sanctions and banning Israeli settlement goods.”
Meanwhile, responding to Sir Keir, Dame Emily Thornberry, the chairwoman of the foreign affairs committee, described Netanyahu’s government as “far right” and said the prime minister’s words “should have the unanimous support of this House.”
She added: “This must stop!”
Following the joint statement by Sir Keir, French president Emmanuel Macron and Canadian PM Mark Carney, Mr Netanyahu hit back, accusing the leaders of “offering a huge prize for the genocidal attack on Israel on October 7 while inviting more such atrocities”.
In their statement, Sir Keir, French president Mr Macron and Canadian premier Mr Carney said: “We strongly oppose the expansion of Israel’s military operations in Gaza. The level of human suffering in Gaza is intolerable.
“Yesterday’s announcement that Israel will allow a basic quantity of food into Gaza is wholly inadequate.”
They said the Israeli government’s denial of aid “is unacceptable and risks breaching international humanitarian law”.
“We condemn the abhorrent language used recently by members of the Israeli government, threatening that, in their despair at the destruction of Gaza, civilians will start to relocate.
“Permanent forced displacement is a breach of international humanitarian law.”
The leaders called on Hamas to release the hostages it took in the “heinous attack” on October 7, 2023. “We have always supported Israel’s right to defend Israelis against terrorism,” the three leaders added.
But they said Israel’s escalation is “wholly disproportionate” and warned they “will not stand by while the Netanyahu government pursues these egregious actions”.
In a stark warning, they said: “If Israel does not cease the renewed military offensive and lift its restrictions on humanitarian aid, we will take further concrete actions in response.”
They also warned they would be prepared to impose targeted sanctions over attempts to expand settlements in the occupied West Bank.
Acknowledging international pressure, Mr Netanyahu said Israel’s “greatest friends in the world” had told him: “We cannot accept images of hunger, mass hunger. We cannot stand that. We will not be able to support you.”
But Israel has launched further air and ground operations across the territory and ordered the evacuation of Gaza’s second-largest city, Khan Younis.
Mr Netanyahu said Israel plans on “taking control of all of Gaza”, putting in place a new system to distribute aid that prevents the involvement of Hamas.
Speaking after Britain, France and Canada ramped up the pressure on Israel, Mr Netanyahu said: “By asking Israel to end a defensive war for our survival before Hamas terrorists on our border are destroyed and by demanding a Palestinian state, the leaders in London, Ottawa and Paris are offering a huge prize for the genocidal attack on Israel on October 7 while inviting more such atrocities.”
After urging European leaders to follow “President Trump’s vision” for ending the conflict, the Israeli prime minister added: “This is a war of civilisation over barbarism. Israel will continue to defend itself by just means until total victory is achieved.”
Despite Israel’s promise to allow aid in, there was no sign of an easing of the humanitarian crisis.
Israeli authorities have temporarily allowed us to deliver limited aid to Gaza after 11 weeks of blockade.
— Tom Fletcher (@UNReliefChief) May 19, 2025
A drop in the ocean. It must reach the civilians who need it so urgently, and we must be allowed to scale up.
We are determined to save as many lives as we can. pic.twitter.com/Ai5m9cawqt
The UN’s humanitarian relief chief Tom Fletcher – a former British diplomat – said nine aid trucks were cleared to enter, “but it is a drop in the ocean of what is urgently needed”.
“Our expectations for today’s crossings are realistic: given ongoing bombardment and acute hunger levels, the risks of looting and insecurity are significant,” he warned.
Sentiments were echoed by Foreign Secretary David Lammy, who told the BBC the situation in Gaza was an “abomination”.
“People must receive the aid that they desperately, desperately need,” he said. “What we’re seeing, in terms of food, water, medicine, fuel, the restrictions on humanitarian assistance, and the loss of life, are completely unacceptable and intolerable.”
And the UK’s industry minister Sarah Jones repeated Sir Keir’s calls for Israel to “stop the military intervention and to allow aid into Gaza”.
“It follows on from what I think everybody will see as completely intolerable suffering of the Gazan people where they are being forced into a situation where they're not having humanitarian aid,” she told Sky News.
She added: “There have been completely unacceptable comments from members of the government about permanently displacing people away from their homeland as well.”
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