Sir Keir Starmer has described Israel’s recent action in Gaza as “intolerable”.

The Prime Minister said the region was experiencing “dark days” and labelled the conduct of Benjamin Netanyahu’s government as “appalling”.

His comments come after the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, an Israeli and US-backed group, paused food deliveries at its three distribution hubs in Gaza on Wednesday, after health officials said at least 27 Palestinians had been killed in a series of shootings near the sites this week.

Sir Keir told the House of Commons on Wednesday afternoon that Israel’s approach in Gaza was “counterproductive” and repeated his calls for a ceasefire.

He also raised the possibility of the UK imposing sanctions on Israel.

The issue was raised during Prime Minister’s Questions by Claire Hanna, the leader of Northern Ireland’s Social Democratic and Labour Party, who said that “these are very dark days and Gaza is a stain on the soul of humanity”.

Sir Keir said: “She’s absolutely right to describe this as dark days. Israel’s recent action is appalling and in my view counterproductive and intolerable and we have strongly opposed the expansion of military operations and settler violence and the blocking of humanitarian aid.