Starmer: We are looking at man-made famine in Gaza
PM accuses Israeli government of 'preventing urgently needed aid' from entering Strip
Keir Starmer has described the situation in Gaza as “horrifying,” telling MPs, “we are looking at a man-made famine.”
Speaking at Prime Minister’s Question Time in the Commons, he said he was speaking with world leaders about the situation, along with efforts to bring about a ceasefire, get the hostages out and “put forward a peace plan that can actually take us to a two-state solution”.
He later accused the Israeli government of “preventing urgently needed aid” from entering Gaza, adding “that is why we are now seeing a man-made famine”.
Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey had questioned whether Starmer would look US president Donald Trump “in the eye” at a forthcoming state banquet and urge him to intervene and force Benjamin Netanyahu to halt Israel’s Gaza offensive.
Davey had referenced images of starving people in Gaza and “emaciated hostages still held captive by Hamas” as he spoke on Wednesday.
The PM responded by confirming “the horrifying situation in Gaza” before adding “we are looking at a man-made famine, on top of everything else”.
Starmer continued: “That is why we’re spending so much of our time with our partners, seeking to bring about a ceasefire, to get humanitarian aid in at pace, to get the hostages out, and of course put forward a peace plan that can actually take us to a two-state solution”.
He then noted that Davey had himself declined to take up his place at the state banquet for Trump in a few weeks’ time, where he would have been able to raise such matters himself with the US president.
Later, Starmer was asked to express support by Labour MP Bell Ribeiro-Addy for the Global Sumud Flotilla now on its way to Gaza with “British citizens” on board.
The PM said the Israeli government was “preventing urgently needed aid from getting into Gaza, and that is why we are now seeing a man-made famine”.
But in reference to the flotilla, he stressed, “to get aid in by any practical means, land routes are the only viable and sustainable means of getting aid into Gaza.”
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