Israel still has a right to defend itself from Hamas but the “terrible conflict” in Gaza must come to an end, Rishi Sunak has said.

The Prime Minister used a statement six months on from the Oct 7 terror attacks in which around 1,200 Israelis were massacred to call for peace in the region “for the good of both Israelis and Palestinians”.

Writing on X, formerly Twitter, Mr Sunak said: “We continue to stand by Israel’s right to defeat the threat from Hamas terrorists and defend their security.

“But the whole of the UK is shocked by the bloodshed, and appalled by the killing of brave British heroes who were bringing food to those in need. This terrible conflict must end.”

It came as Oliver Dowden, Mr Sunak’s deputy, insisted the UK was not giving Israel “carte blanche” and the Government was having “robust conversations” with Benjamin Netanyahu’s country. 

“Of course Israel has made mistakes, and made big mistakes, and we should hold them to account for that but we are holding them to a very high standard,” he told Sky News.

The Hamas-run Palestinian health ministry claims more than 32,000 Palestinians have been killed in the Israeli bombardment of the West Bank, but its figures are unverified and do not differentiate between civilians and combatants.

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