Starmer speaks with Netanyahu, discusses urgent need for ‘regional de-escalation’
UK leader offers condolences on Tuesday recovery of six dead hostages, including Nadav Popplewell, an Israeli-British national
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Tuesday, Starmer’s office said in a readout of the call.
Starmer offered his condolences to the families of the six hostages whose bodies were recovered from Gaza on Tuesday morning, including Nadav Popplewell, an Israeli-British national, the readout said.
The two also “discussed diplomatic efforts to secure a ceasefire and the release of the hostages,” and discussed the urgent need for regional de-escalation as “the impact of miscalculation would come at great costs for all sides.”
Starmer reiterated the UK’s commitment to Israel’s right to self-defense, and said it would “continue to work with partners to uphold regional security,” the readout said.
Finally, Starmer urged Netanyahu to secure increased delivery of aid to Gaza and “to ensure international law was upheld at all times.”
There was no immediate statement on the call from Netanyahu’s office, but Reuters reported that Starmer’s office said that both leaders “agreed that de-escalation was in everyone’s interests.”
Starmer led the Labour Party to a resounding victory in the recent July 5 UK elections, becoming the first leader from the center-left party to win a national election since Tony Blair, who won three in a row starting in 1997.
The call comes after British Foreign Secretary David Lammy visited Israel last week.
Starmer, who led a purge of the party beset by antisemitism under former leader Jeremy Corbyn, has overseen a shift in the the UK’s stance on Israel and its war with the Hamas terror group in Gaza.
The UK has stepped up calls for the sides to reach a ceasefire and hostage release deal, is examining limiting some arms exports to Israel and withdrew the previous government’s objection to the International Criminal Court’s request for arrest warrants against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant.
