The UK on Monday night accused Israel of breaking international law, for the first time since the start of the conflict in Gaza.

David Lammy, the Foreign Secretary, said Benjamin Netanyahu’s country had committed “a breach of international law”, in a significant hardening of the British position.

Over the past two weeks, Mr Netanyahu’s government has blocked humanitarian aid including food, fuel and medicine from entering Gaza, putting further pressure on Hamas to abide by a fragile ceasefire.

Last year, the Government suspended around 30 arms export licences to Israel for use in military operations in Gaza, after a review of Israel’s compliance with international humanitarian law.

Mr Lammy’s comments during a debate in Parliament were the first time the UK has explicitly accused Israel of a breach.

Rupa Huq, the Labour MP for Ealing Central and Acton, used her contribution in the Commons to accuse Israel of taking “provocative action during Ramadan”.