Ex-Shadow Home Secretary Diane Abbott has led calls for a ceasefire just hours after Hamas fired rockets into Israel and failed to provide a list of hostages.
Abbott, who lost the Labour whip after suggesting Jewish people face the same prejudice as people with red hair, is among a number of left-wing MPs calling for a ceasefire.
Writing on social media, the Hackney North and Stoke Newington MP said: “Keir Starmer claims he wants ‘to put Britain back on the world stage’.
“He could start by calling for a ceasefire in Gaza.”
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Abbott added a hashtag calling for a ceasefire now to her post.
MPs voted on whether Israel and Hamas should have a ceasefire in Gaza last month.
A total of 294 MPs voted against a halt to conflict.
But 125 MPs voted for a ceasefire, including 56 Labour MPs.
Parliament will debate the topic yet again on December 11 after 250,000 people signed a petition calling for a ceasefire.
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The Government said in response: “There is no scenario where Hamas can be allowed to control Gaza again.
“That is why we are not at this stage calling for a general ceasefire, which would potentially allow Hamas to regroup and entrench its position.
“The United Kingdom is supportive of humanitarian pauses as part of measures to facilitate the flow of life-saving humanitarian aid and ensure civilians are safe.
“The UK’s longstanding position on the Middle East Peace Process is clear: we remain committed to a two-state solution, and support a negotiated settlement leading to a safe and secure Israel living alongside a viable and sovereign Palestinian state.
“We do not believe that a long-term presence of Israeli security forces within Gaza would be of benefit to Israelis or Palestinians, and will foster discontent in the region.”
However, Abbott’s latest ceasefire call comes after Hamas were accused of firing rockets into Israel and failing to provide a list of hostages.
Diane Abbott speaking during a Stand Up to Racism taking the knee event outside Downing Street in London in solidarity with England players Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho and Bukayo Saka
PA
The IDF responded by confirming fighting would continue.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said in a statement that Hamas “violated the framework, did not meet its obligation to release all hostage women, and fired rockets at Israel.”
They added: “Amid the return to combat, we stress the government of Israel is committed to achieving the goals of the war — releasing our hostages, eliminating Hamas, and ensuring that Gaza can never again threaten the people of Israel.”
Hamas is also refusing to tone down its rhetoric and is instead vowing to inflict yet another attack on Israel in the future.
The Islamist terror group’s leader in Gaza Yahya Sinwar said: “The leaders of the occupation [Israel] should know, October 7 was just a rehearsal.”
At least 1,200 people were killed during Hamas attack and around 240 people were taken hostage.
