Keir Starmer warns ‘sparks’ from the Middle East crisis ‘light touchpapers’ in Britain as PM blasts ‘vile hatred against Jews and Muslims in wake of 7 October attacks
Sir Keir Starmer has warned ‘sparks’ from the Middle East crisis ‘light touchpapers’ in Britain as he blasted ‘vile hatred’ against Jews and Muslims since 7 October last year.
Ahead of the first anniversary of the Hamas terror attacks on Israel, the PM said there were ‘always some who would use conflict abroad to stoke conflict here’.
Writing in the Sunday Times, Sir Keir addressed growing fears of a widescale conflict after the Middle East was ‘plunged into a new and terrible darkness’ 12 months ago.
He urged both Israel and Iran to ‘step back from the brink’ and avoid a direct conflict, following Tehran’s ‘outrageous’ missiles strikes on Israel.
The PM said a full-scale war between the two countries ‘would have devastating consequences for the people of the Middle East and across the world’.
Sir Keir Starmer has warned ‘sparks’ from the Middle East crisis ‘light touchpapers’ in Britain as he blasted ‘vile hatred’ against Jews and Muslims since 7 October last year
Smoke rises from a fire after an explosion following an Israeli strike at Choueifat district in Beirut, Lebanon
Police officers intervene in London amid clashes during a demonstration in support of Palestinians in Gaza
‘One year on, people right across the Middle East region will go to bed tonight fearful for what tomorrow holds,’ Sir Keir wrote ahead of the anniversary of the 7 October attacks.
‘Innocent civilians are caught in the crossfire in Lebanon, Gaza, Israel and the West Bank.’
With Israel continuing its strikes on Lebanon and Gaza, Sir Keir called for ‘all parties’ in the Middle East to ‘act with restraint and return to political, not military solutions’.
‘No security will be found in greater destabilisation,’ he wrote. ‘A better future will not be won by traumatising, orphaning and displacing another generation.’
The PM also issued a warning about the impact of the conflict in the UK, adding: ‘The flames from this deadly conflict now threaten to consume the region.
‘And the sparks light touchpapers in our own communities here at home. Because Israel and the Middle East are not just inseparable from our nation’s history.
‘They have a deep relationship with our multicultural society. Millions have family ties to the region.
‘During difficult times, our differences and diversity should bind us together more strongly, not drive us apart.
‘But there are always some who would use conflict abroad to stoke conflict here.
‘Since October 7, we have watched vile hatred against Jews and Muslims rise in our communities.’
Israel last night expanded its bombardment in Lebanon, hitting Beirut’s southern suburbs.
Amid the escalating violence, the last currently scheduled charter flight for Britons wishing to flee Lebanon is due to depart today.
The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) has said that more than 250 people have been able to leave so far on the three chartered flights that have already left Beirut.
There are no more scheduled charter flights, the FCDO said, due to a decrease in demand, but this will be kept under review.
Announcing Sunday’s flight, Foreign Secretary David Lammy said: ‘The situation in Lebanon remains volatile, so I am glad that we have helped the many people who have heeded our advice to leave the country immediately.
‘With demand falling, and the security situation deteriorating, there is no guarantee other options to leave quickly will become available.
‘I urge anyone who wants to leave to register now.’
