open for a few hours on monday. the un says advanced talks are underway to get the first aid into gaza since israel started its bombardment of the territory. israel believes nearly 200 hostages are being held in gaza. benjamin netanyahu promises to bring them home. us secretary of state antony blinken returns to israel as he tries to head—off a wider regional conflict. we are going to go to the house of commons because we are expecting a statement from the prime minister rishi sunak on the israel gaza war. these are the live pictures from the house of commons. number ten says the prime minister will reiterate the prime minister will reiterate the uk's total condemnation of

hamas's attack and he will set out the approach of the government to the approach of the government to the developing crisis. we will keep those pictures over the next few minutes until we get to the point that the prime minister speaks. we can speak to our political correspondent. could you tell us what we are expecting to hear from the prime minister? this what we are expecting to hear from the prime minister?— the prime minister? this is the first day back _ the prime minister? this is the first day back in _ the prime minister? this is the first day back in the _ the prime minister? this is the first day back in the house - the prime minister? this is the first day back in the house of l first day back in the house of commons and we can expect the prime minister to outline what the uk government is doing in response to the israel gaza conflict and firstly we can expect to hear an update from the prime minister about the number of deaths and british citizens who are still missing in the region as well, and also updates on what the british government is doing working with the israeli government to try and secure the release of hostages in the country. we can also expect to hear an update on aid and what

further support and humanitarian support uk government may be offering to support people in gaza as well as israel but in gaza as well for people fleeing the region at the moment and we can expect to hear a reiteration of the government's position which is shared by the opposition. we will hearfrom keir starmer as shared by the opposition. we will hear from keir starmer as well about his position. both labour and the uk government have been pretty similar in their response so far, condemning hamas and saying that israel has the right to defend itself while also urging restraint and making sure that civilian lives are protected where possible and that there is minimal destruction to civilian lives and this is something we will expect to hear repeated from both the prime minister and the leader of the prime minister and the leader of the opposition. it the prime minister and the leader of the opposition-— the opposition. it has been a busy coule of the opposition. it has been a busy coume of days _ the opposition. it has been a busy couple of days diplomatically - the opposition. it has been a busy couple of days diplomatically for i couple of days diplomatically for the prime minister. meeting at the

weekend king abdullah ofjordan. this is a global conflict. sorry, we have got to interrupt because the prime minister has started speaking. the elderly men, women, children, babes in arms, murdered, mutilated, burned alive. we should call it by its name, it was a pogrom, and the families of some of the missing are in the public gallery today. we call for the immediate release of all hostages and i say to them, we stand with you, we stand with israel. the murdered and the missing come from over 30 countries including the uk. the terrible nature of these attacks means it is proving difficult to identify many of the deceased. but

with a heavy heart i can inform the house that at least six british citizens were killed. a further ten are missing and some of whom are feared to be among the dead. we are working with israel to establish the facts as quickly as possible and we are supporting the families who are suffering unimaginable pain. we also helping british citizens who want to leave and we have organised eight flights so far bringing out over 500 people with more flights leaving today. we are working with neighbouring countries on land evacuations for our citizens in gaza and the west bank. i have spoken to president sisi about supporting civilians to leave gaza by the rafah crossing which at present remains closed. we have a border force team in egypt working with our embassy to help citizens when they are able to cross. i will come back to the grave humanitarian situation in gaza in a moment but first, i want to address

the britishjewish community directly. as i said at finchley synagogue last week, and at the jewish school i visited this morning, we stand with you now and always. this atrocity was an existential strike at the very idea of israel as a safe homeland for the jewish people. i understand why it has shaken you to your core. and i am second that anti—semitic incidents have increased since the attack. —— i am sickened. we are doing everything we can to protect you and providing an additional £3 million for the community security trust to protect schools, synagogues and otherjewish community buildings. we are working with the police to make sure that hate crime and the glorification of terror is met with the full force of the law. i know the whole house will support

this and join me in saying unequivocally we stand with the jewish community. i also recognise that this is a moment of great anguish for british muslim communities. they are also appalled by the actions of hamas but fearful of the response. we must listen to these concerns with the same attentiveness. hamas is using innocent palestinian people as human shields. with the tragic loss of more than 2600 palestinian lives including many children. we mourn the loss of every innocent life, civilians of every faith, every nationality, who have been killed. and so let's say it plainly, we stand with british muslim communities as well. israel was founded notjust as a homeland for the jewish people founded notjust as a homeland for thejewish people but as a guarantor

of their security. to make sure that what happened to thejewish people in the holocaust could never happen again. though its strength and resilience, israel gradually achieved some of that long fought for security, despite the strategic threats on their borders including hezbollah in the north with a run at their back, and they normalise relations with the uae and bahrain and abraham accords —— with iran at their back. one reason why this attack is so shocking, is that it is attack is so shocking, is that it is a fundamental challenge to any idea of coexistence which is an essential precursor to peace and stability in the region. the question is, how should we respond? i believe we must support absolutely israel's right to defend itself. to go after hamas and take back the hostages and deter further incursions and strengthen

its security for the long term. this must be done in line with international humanitarian law, but also recognising that they face a vicious enemy that embeds itself behind civilians. as a friend, we will continue to call on israel to take every possible precaution to avoid harming civilians. i repeat the words of president biden, as democracies we are stronger and more secure when we act according to the rule of law. humanity, law, decency, respect for human life, that is what sets us apart from the mindless violence of the terrorist. there are three specific areas where the uk is helping to shape events. first, we are working to prevent escalation and further threats against israel. 0n and further threats against israel. on friday raf surveillance aircraft began patrols to retract threats to regional security.

began patrols to retract threats to regionalsecurity. i began patrols to retract threats to regional security. i have deployed a royal navy task group to the eastern mediterranean as well as three merlin helicopters and a company of royal marines ready to offer arms and support. we are bolstering our forces in cyprus and across the region and let me be clear, we are not engaging in fighting, or in the offensive in gaza but we are increasing our presence to prevent broader regional instability at this dangerous moment. second, i'm proud that we are a long—standing and significant provider of humanitarian aid to the palestinian people. i can announce that we are increasing our aid by a third with an additional £10 million of support. an acute humanitarian crisis is unfolding to which we must respond. we must support the palestinian people because they are victims of hamas as

well. like our allies, we believe that hamas does not represent the palestinian people or their legitimate aspirations to live in equal measures of security, freedom and justice and opportunity and dignity. hamas simply does not stand for the future that the palestinians want. and they seek to put the palestinian people in harms way. so we must make sure humanitarian support urgently reaches civilians in gaza and this requires egypt and israel to allow in the aid which is badly needed and we also need to keep the situation in the west bank in the forefront of our minds at this moment of heightened sensitivity. earlier i spoke to the leader of the palestinian authority to express our support for his efforts to provide stability. and third, we will use all the tools of british diplomacy to sustain the prospects of peace and stability in

the region. ultimately that require security for israelis and palestinians and a two state solution so we are increasing our regional engagement. i have spoken with prime minister netanyahu twice in the last week along with the us, france, germany, italy and others, and the foreign secretary was the first to visit israel after the attacks and i met with the king of jordan yesterday, long—time voice of reason and moderation. and i have spoken today with the leaders of turkey and egypt and will speak to others in the coming days. our partners in the region have asked us to play a role in preventing further escalation, so that is what we will do. however hard it is, we need to ask the tough questions about how we can revive the long—term prospects for a two state solution, normalisation and regional stability. not least because that is

precisely what hamas has been trying to kill. in conclusion, unequivocally backing israel's right to defend itself, stepping forward with humanitarian support, working to protect civilians from harm and straining every sin you to keep the flame of peace and stability alive. that is our objective and it is the right approach for the region and it is the right approach for the uk and i commend this statement of the house. ~ ., u, i commend this statement of the house. ~ ., _, ., ., i commend this statement of the house. ~ ., ., ., ., house. we now come to the leader of the opposition — house. we now come to the leader of the opposition keir— house. we now come to the leader of the opposition keir starmer. - house. we now come to the leader of the opposition keir starmer. i - house. we now come to the leader of the opposition keir starmer. i would l the opposition keir starmer. i would like to thank— the opposition keir starmer. i would like to thank the _ the opposition keir starmer. i would like to thank the prime _ the opposition keir starmer. i would like to thank the prime minister- the opposition keir starmer. i would like to thank the prime minister for. like to thank the prime minister for advance copy of a statement and for the updates the government has provided to the labour front bench in the last few days. last saturday israel was the victim of terrorism on an unimaginable scale. the senseless murder of men, women, children, even babies. the horrors

of hostagetaking. music festivals turned to killing fields, innocent jews slaughtered, an attack with no cores other than bloodshed. i am sure that over the last few days every member of this house has seen images from this crisis that will never be unseen. tiny bodies wrapped in bundles, in israel and now in gaza, mothers and fathers grieving. israeli, palestinian, muslim, jew, the innocent dead. it is crucial that this house speaks with one voice in condemnation of terror and in support for israel in its time of agony. and for the dignity of all human life. because hamas do not

wish to see peace in the middle east. theyjust want wish to see peace in the middle east. they just want to see wish to see peace in the middle east. theyjust want to see israel wiped off the map. but hamas are not the palestinian people. the palestinian people are not hamas. so we stand with israel, the uk stands with israel, and the attack is ongoing and terrorists are at large and hostages are still being held, some of them british citizens. israel has the right to bring her people home and to defend herself and to keep its people safe and whilst hamas has the capability to carry out attacks on israeli territory, there can be no safety. as the secretary of state antony blinken said last week, democracies distinguish ourselves from terrorists by striving for a different standard even when it is difficult. he is right. and as the prime minister has said, there is an

acute humanitarian crisis unfolding and the defence of israel must be donein and the defence of israel must be done in accordance with international law and civilians must not be targeted and innocent lives must be protected. there must be humanitarian corridors and there must be humanitarian access including food and water and electricity and medicines. so that hospitals can keep people alive and so that innocent people do not needlessly die. there must be proper protection for those who work selflessly so aid can be delivered to victims. there can be no doubt, the responsibility for this crisis lies with hamas. they have no interest in palestinian rights and no interest in the security of the people of gaza and they have unleashed terror and then they hide among them, women and children, used as human shields. hostages held who should be released. they are

destroyers of lives and hope and of peace. and we cannot give them what they want. we must keep striving for a two state solution, a palestinian state alongside a safe and secure israel. we cannot give up on that hope. cannot let hamas brutality be a catalyst for conflict in the wider region. engagement between israel and arab nations must be strengthened, not abandoned. international cooperation and the rule of law, a political road to peace, hamas want us to abandon all three. and in defiance we must be resolute on all of them. these attacks are having a huge impact on communities across the uk. many in this house will have heard devastating stories from people who have lost friends and family. people deeply worried about the future of

those they know in israel or palestine. including the first minister of scotland who i spoke to at the weekend. we stand with all of them, stand against the worrying rise in islamophobia and stand against the anti—semitic abuse and threats and assault we have seen on british streets. because we must never underestimate the burden of history thatjewish people carry with them and i do not want the uk to be a place wherejewish schools are closed and jewish children stay at home out of fear. and jewish families feel compelled to hide their identity. i do not want the uk to be a place where british muslims feel they have to apologise for the actions of people who do not act in their name. we cannot allow community cohesion in our country to be destroyed and we all bear a responsibility to do all we can to stamp out hate. and we fully support

the police action to provide extra assistance for our community. the events of the past week have seen horrors beyond our imagination. so lets send a strong message, westminster is united, the uk is united, with israel, against terror, for international law and the protection of innocent lives. there are difficult days ahead but our values cannot be compromised. terror cannot win. thank you, mr speaker. prime minister. i cannot win. thank you, mr speaker. prime minister.— prime minister. i thank the leader ofthe prime minister. i thank the leader of the opposition _ prime minister. i thank the leader of the opposition for _ prime minister. i thank the leader of the opposition for his _ prime minister. i thank the leader of the opposition for his remarks. | of the opposition for his remarks. let mejust say, of the opposition for his remarks. let me just say, this of the opposition for his remarks. let mejust say, this is of the opposition for his remarks. let me just say, this is an unprecedented and extraordinarily difficult situation and is likely to remain difficult for everyone in the days and weeks ahead but we must always have in the forefront of our

mind that responsibility for this crisis is hamas and them alone. it was a barbaric act of terrorism that has inflicted untold suffering and misery on so many people and we have felt that acutely here at home. we have seen the impact on our streets over the past week and it has sickened everyone and we stand united in saying that anti—semitism has no place in our society. let me be unequivocal, that those who incite racial or religious hatred on our streets and that inflict violence and cause untold suffering to people, they will be met with the full force of the law. i know the whole house willjoin me in making sure that happens and that the police have the tools and powers they need to bring that about. and let me also say in conclusion, that

the gentleman opposite is right, the house stands united in saying that we condemn unequivocally the terrorist attack by hamas and stand united in saying that we will beat stand fast in our support for israel and stand fast in our support for thejewish and stand fast in our support for the jewish people and stand fast in our support for thejewish people —— that we will be steadfast. notjust today, but tomorrow, and always. the steadfast. notjust today, but tomorrow, and always. the house is crateful tomorrow, and always. the house is grateful for — tomorrow, and always. the house is grateful for the _ tomorrow, and always. the house is grateful for the lead _ tomorrow, and always. the house is grateful for the lead the _ tomorrow, and always. the house is grateful for the lead the prime - grateful for the lead the prime minister and the leader of the opposition have given. these are the 0pposition have given. these are the thoughts of benjamin netanyahu. the terror attack was intended to bring awful harm to the palestinians, and awful harm to the palestinians, and a senior constituent said this is a harrowing time forjews all over the world and there are about 16 million worldwide, so why can't they leave us alone? if we play for the peace ofjerusalem, we want to bring

security for the people of israel and to the people of gaza —— if we pray for the peace ofjerusalem. can pray for the peace of jerusalem. can i thank the pray for the peace ofjerusalem. can i thank the father of the house for what he said. and simply agree with his constituent in saying that all of us will pray for peace in the region but especially for peace for those families who have been so tragically affected by what has happened in the past week. the leader of the _ happened in the past week. the leader of the snp stephen flynn. rahhie _ leader of the snp stephen flynn. rahhie burns_ leader of the snp stephen flynn. rabbie burns once _ leader of the snp stephen flynn. rabbie burns once poignantly- leader of the snp stephen flynn. . rabbie burns once poignantly wrote that man's inhumanity to man it makes countless thousands more and it is with those words echoing in all of our hearts that we send our thoughts and prayers to all of those suffering in the middle east. the abhorrent terrorist attack by hamas on the jewish abhorrent terrorist attack by hamas on thejewish people in the israeli

state was a crime against our common humanity and it must be condemned unequivocally. what more powerful response can we have than to seek to protect the shared innocence and the shared humanity of both israeli and palestinian civilians? and what that will require is a lot, it will require the defeat of hamas, it will require the defeat of hamas, it will require the defeat of hamas, it will require the safe return of all those hostages who have been taken, and it will require the opening of humanitarian corridors so that people can escape gaza and aid can get in. it will require medicine and water and electricity for hospital so that people who are injured can be treated. it will require no collective punishment. in order to make that happen it will require international leadership and

international leadership and international diplomacy. 0n international leadership and international diplomacy. on these aisles the responsibility will fall to the uk prime minister and i very much wish him well in making that happen. right across to jane that we all need to be very, very conscious that history willjudge us on our response —— right across this chamber. notjust of these abhorrent attacks back to the humanitarian crisis which is undoubtedly unfolding in gaza. let us not be on the wrong side of history. i unfolding in gaza. let us not be on the wrong side of history.- the wrong side of history. i thank the wrong side of history. i thank the honourable _ the wrong side of history. i thank the honourable gentleman - the wrong side of history. i thank the honourable gentleman for . the wrong side of history. i thankj the honourable gentleman for his remarks. i agree with him that the crisis does demand that the uk steps up crisis does demand that the uk steps up diplomatically to make a difference to bring about peace and stability and that is what we have donein stability and that is what we have done in the past week. the foreign secretary being the first person to visit israel and we have spoken to

many of his counterparts and myself in the same vein working with allies in the same vein working with allies in the same vein working with allies in the region to make sure that we can work together to bring about a successful and peaceful resolution. but also recognising the scale of the humanitarian situation that is unfolding and playing a leading role in helping to alleviate it, not least with our announcement today of considerably more aid for the palestinian territories building on our track record is one of the leading providers of aid to the region and that will continue. theresa may.— region and that will continue. theresa ma . ., ., , ., _ theresa may. the attack on israel by hamas was — theresa may. the attack on israel by hamas was barbaric, _ theresa may. the attack on israel by hamas was barbaric, and _ theresa may. the attack on israel by hamas was barbaric, and terrorists l hamas was barbaric, and terrorists must be defeated, whoever they are, wherever they are. can i commend my right honourable friend and the foreign secretary for the stance the government has taken in support of thejewish community in the uk and in support of israel and its right to defend itself? i welcome the statement from the prime minister that action must be taken in line with international, humanitarian

law, but will he commit today that the government will leave no stone unturned in its efforts to prevent regional escalation of the conflict and in doing so will he reflect on the role of iran? i and in doing so will he reflect on the role of iran?— and in doing so will he reflect on the role of iran? i thank my right honourable _ the role of iran? i thank my right honourable friend _ the role of iran? i thank my right honourable friend and _ the role of iran? i thank my right honourable friend and i - the role of iran? i thank my right honourable friend and i can - the role of iran? i thank my right honourable friend and i can give| the role of iran? i thank my right i honourable friend and i can give her that reassurance, something we have discussed extensively with partners in the region but also why i deployed surveillance craft and assets to be mediterranean and they are already engaged, trying to make sure that arms shipments do not find their way to people like hezbollah and iran does not see this as a way to escalate the conflict. the support in the region has been welcomed by our partners who share our aim in welcomed by our partners who share ouraim in making welcomed by our partners who share our aim in making sure that this is a constraint to dealing with hamas what they have done. nobody wants to see escalation and that is what prime minister netanyahu and myself discussed and he agrees that his objective is to deal with hamas and

not to see this spread more widely. the scale of the terrorist attacks from hamas have been utterly horrifying and the atrocities they have committed are truly sickening. we stand with the people of israel and with thejewish community who are grieving and afraid. we call for the unconditional release of all hostages and we urge the government to find the funders of hamas, the iranian revolutionary guard. israel has the right to defend itself and its citizens. that means targeting vote, not innocent civilians, in line with international law. —— that means targeting hamas. i'm concerned about the forced evacuation of hospitals in gaza which means death of innocent palestinians who will not survive being taken off life support. the world health

organisation said this might be a breach of international law so can be prime minister say what advice he has received on this matter. the israeli forces _ has received on this matter. the israeli forces will _ has received on this matter. the israeli forces will operate in accordance with international law and the israeli attempt to minimise civilian casualties by warning them to leave northern gaza has been further complicated by hamas terrorists telling the local population not to leave and instead using them as human shields. we will continue to urge israel as i have done, that while they have the absolute right to defend themselves and to make sure the attacks can never happen again, that they take every precaution to minimise the impact on civilians. the every precaution to minimise the impact on civilians.— impact on civilians. the terror attack on _ impact on civilians. the terror attack on israel _ impact on civilians. the terror attack on israel constituted i impact on civilians. the terror- attack on israel constituted crimes

against humanity, crime is so awful they violated our understanding of they violated our understanding of the depths of human depravity and a depravity which continues today as innocents remain held hostage by terrorists and their patrons of state iran. israel has a right to defend itself and to defeat cook and we can support with them and with their people are recognising that a counterterrorism operation matters —— and to defeat hamas. 0ur birds shape our ability to be a legitimate arbiter in future conflict —— our words. while there is an imperative to defeat hamas in the immediate, how they are defeated will shape the region's future and because the people of gaza are not hamas and 1.2 million children a bear no collective guilt for the terror of hamas. so i repeat my call for the creation of a special envoy for the middle east peace process and can he

tell the house more about what actions are being taken to prevent loss of life and conflict in the west bank and will he finally proscribe the iranian revolutionary guard? ~ ., , ., proscribe the iranian revolutionary guard? ., , ., ~ , guard? with regards to the west bank, this is _ guard? with regards to the west bank, this is something - guard? with regards to the west bank, this is something i - guard? with regards to the west bank, this is something i spoke. guard? with regards to the west | bank, this is something i spoke to the president of the palestinian authority about, and also to the king ofjordan and we spoke about the necessary measures, the support we can provide to make sure of the strong stability of the west bank, because no one wants to see the situation escalate. we are in active dialogue with both of those partners to see how we can help bring the stability to the west bank and this is something i will continue to discuss with prime minister netanyahu and it is importantly west bank remains calm and that is what we will help bring about.

0n on saturday i sat next to a constituent whose cousin is one of the hostages and my thoughts and prayers _ the hostages and my thoughts and prayers go out to him and all families— prayers go out to him and all families and hostages currently being _ families and hostages currently being detained. whilst conflict escalates in the middle east we see the effect _ escalates in the middle east we see the effect on the streets in britain _ the effect on the streets in britain i_ the effect on the streets in britain. i welcome the stance on standing — britain. i welcome the stance on standing behind israel's right to defend — standing behind israel's right to defend itself unfortunately in the last week we have seen a 500% increase — last week we have seen a 500% increase in— last week we have seen a 500% increase in incidence. even this weekend — increase in incidence. even this weekend glorification of hamas and genocidal— weekend glorification of hamas and genocidal chance on the streets of our cities — genocidal chance on the streets of our cities. will the prime minister joined _ our cities. will the prime minister joined me — our cities. will the prime minister joined me in applauding the efforts of the _ joined me in applauding the efforts of the cst— joined me in applauding the efforts of the cst and keeping the jewish community safe but also commit to anyone _ community safe but also commit to anyone found preaching hate speech

and illustrates faces the law.