Downing Street says government would back calls for ‘pauses’ in Israel’s war on Hamas

The UK government is supporting calls for “pauses” but not a ceasefire to the fighting in Gaza to allow humanitarian aid to reach the region, a Downing Street spokesperson has confirmed.

Speaking to journalists in Westminster after Prime Minister’s Questions on Wednesday, the spokesperson confirmed: “A wholesale ceasefire would only serve to benefit Hamas. Humanitarian pauses, which are temporary, which are limited in scope, can be an operational tool.”

It followed a similar call for “pauses” from US secretary of state Antony Blinken.

Earlier, in the Commons, Rishi Sunak had told MPs in response to a question on why he was not already calling for a “humanitarian ceasefire” that;”From the start we have said that the first and most important principle is that Israel has the right to defend itself under international law – our support for that position is absolute and unchanged.

“But from the start we have also said that we do want British nationals to be able to leave Gaza, and that we want hostages to be released and for humanitarian aid to get in.

“And we recognise that for all of that to happen there has to be a safer environment, which of course necessitates specific pauses as distinct from a ceasefire.

“And we discussed this with partners yesterday evening at the United Nations, and we have also been consistently clear that everything must be done to protect civilians in line with international law and continue getting more aid flowing into Gaza.”

A report by Reuters said the US has been pushing for shorter breaks in the fighting.

Sunak also told MPs Israel had suffered “a shockingly brutal” attack and Hamas was “responsible for this conflict”, adding that the group “cruelly embeds itself” among civilians.

An RAF flight left the UK on Wednesday morning for Egypt, carrying 21 tonnes of aid for Gaza, including more than 75,000 medical kits, solar lights, and water filters, the prime minister revealed.

He added: “We will continue to do everything we can to increase the flow of aid, including fuel, into Gaza.”

A spokesperson for Keir Starmer later said Labour would support calls for “pauses”.

He added:”We support the position that Anthony Blinken set out last night around humanitarian pauses.”