Would you invite Putin? MPs' outrage as Starmer defends Israeli president's visit

Sir Keir Starmer has defended welcoming the Israeli president to Downing Street arsenic MPs raised concerns astir allowing him into the UK.

Sir Keir started Prime Minister's Questions (PMQs) by saying "however difficult, the UK indispensable not locomotion distant from a diplomatic solution" to the warfare successful Gaza.

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"We volition negociate and we volition strain each sinew, due to the fact that that is the lone mode to get the hostages out, to get assistance successful and to halt the killing," helium told MPs.

The PM said helium volition beryllium "absolutely wide that we condemn Israel's action" successful bombing Hamas leaders successful Qatar, during his gathering with Israeli President Isaac Herzog connected Wednesday afternoon.

His sojourn comes conscionable a time aft Israel carried retired the onslaught successful Qatar.

The PM added that it would beryllium the "politics of students" not to conscionable Mr Herzog aft the SNP's Westminster person Stephen Flynn gave an impassioned code against the Israeli president's visit.

Mr Flynn said: "Would helium invitation Vladimir Putin into No 10? Would helium invitation Benjamin Netanyahu into No 10?

"What does it accidental of this premier curate that helium volition harbour this antheral whilst children starve?"

MPs question Herzog visit

Dozens of MPs from each parties, including Labour, person questioned the ineligible lasting of Sir Keir welcoming Mr Herzog.

The Israeli president antecedently said determination are "no guiltless civilians successful Gaza" and "it is an full federation that is responsible".

He was besides pictured signing an artillery ammunition earlier it was fired towards Gaza successful December.

The premier minister's spokesperson said the onslaught successful Qatar is simply a "clearly unacceptable act" and said it "of course" would beryllium 1 of the subjects raised with Mr Herzog.

He added Sir Keir volition beryllium "clear" with Mr Herzog astir the hazard of Israel escalating its actions.

Handcuffs not handshakes

New Green Party person Zack Polanski called for "handcuffs not handshakes" arsenic helium said Scotland Yard's warfare crimes portion should beryllium waiting wrong Number 10 to handcuff Mr Herzog "and instrumentality him distant for questioning".

Mr Polanski, who won the Greens enactment predetermination past week and is Jewish, accused Mr Herzog of being "complicit portion the Israeli authorities has engaged successful committing genocide successful Gaza".

Israel has continually denied it is carrying retired a genocide successful Gaza, but past week, the world's starring relation of genocide scholars declared it is. Earlier this week, the UK authorities concluded Israel is not committing genocide successful Gaza.

Herzog is simply a conduit

The Liberal Democrats tabled an urgent question pursuing PMQs, calling connected the overseas caput to marque a connection connected the implications of Israel's onslaught successful Qatar.

Foreign Office curate Hamish Falconer took to the despatch container to support Mr Herzog's visit, saying: "President Herzog is connected a backstage sojourn to the UK.

"He is not a functional portion of the government; helium is an important conduit to rise these concerns."

Mr Falconer said the UK is supporting a question for an exigency gathering of the UN Security Council connected Wednesday evening and revealed Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper is speaking to the E3 (UK, France and Germany) and G7 allies, including the US astir Israel's onslaught connected Qatar.

He added that Ms Cooper met Mr Herzog successful the greeting and "amongst different things" asked him to guarantee greater enactment from the Israeli authorities to get children with injuries and students retired of Gaza.

As PMQs was taking place, national members astatine the Trades Union Congress (TUC) league unanimously passed a question to reason Mr Herzog's visit.

On Tuesday evening, 60 cross-party MPs and Lords gathered extracurricular parliament to condemn Mr Herzog's sojourn aft they sent a missive to Sir Keir asking what ineligible proposal the authorities has received astir Mr Herzog's sojourn and whether his introduction to the UK "is compatible with our obligations nether the Genocide Convention".