Starmer and Israeli president had tough' exchanges over Gaza

"Herzog, speaking to the Chatham House thinktank immediately after the meeting, said he had offered the British government a fact-finding mission to look at the levels of aid entering Gaza. He denied there was any famine and blamed the high civilian death toll on Hamas placing missiles in living rooms. He offered no apology for the attack on Hamas's leadership in Doha on Tuesday, accusing Qatar of being allies of Hamas rather than mediators."

"Downing Street said Starmer condemned Israel's action in Doha yesterday as completely unacceptable. He said the strikes were a flagrant violation of a key partner's sovereignty and do nothing to secure the peace we all desperately want to see. Turning to Gaza, he reiterated his huge concern and implored Israel to change course. They must stop the man-made famine from worsening further by letting aid in and halting their offensive operations."

"No 10 defended the decision for Starmer and the foreign secretary, Yvette Cooper, to meet Herzog, and said one goal was to persuade him that Israel needed to do more to evacuate injured children and potential students from Gaza to the UK. Protesters gathered outside Chatham House during Isaac Herzog's visit. Photograph: Graeme Robertson/The Guardian In the Commons, the meeting was widely condemned by Labour MPs angry the government is not taking a tougher line with Israel, which some described as a rogue state."

Prime Minister Keir Starmer met Israeli President Isaac Herzog at Downing Street to press concerns about humanitarian aid into Gaza. Herzog offered a fact-finding mission on aid levels, denied any famine and blamed high civilian deaths on Hamas placing missiles in living rooms. He refused to apologise for strikes on Hamas leadership in Doha and accused Qatar of siding with Hamas rather than mediating. Starmer condemned the Doha strikes as a flagrant violation of sovereignty and urged Israel to stop actions worsening a man-made famine by allowing aid in and halting offensive operations. Protesters and Labour MPs criticised the meeting and called for tougher action.

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