General election latest: Starmer ‘prepared to use nuclear weapons if needed’ as Labour makes national security push

Sir Keir Starmer is challenged again on his position on the war in Gaza, and is asked if human rights matter there, in his view.

He replies: “Yes, of course, and international law matters in Gaza, and accountability matters in Gaza.

“And you wouldn’t be human if you weren’t affected by the images that we’ve seen, the reports coming out of Gaza, the sheer number of people who’ve been killed – many of them women and children.

“And also the knowledge that [Israeli] hostages are still being held.”

He continues that the “best thing we can do for both sides is to press for that ceasefire immediately, straight away”, adding: “That’s been our position for weeks and weeks and weeks and months.”

The key will be stopping the fighting, getting hostages out, and getting aid in.

“And then that duty we will have if we come into power to play our full part in resolving the conflict in the Middle East for the long-term and that can only happen if we work with our allies, if we play our part on the world stage and clear the path for a two-state solution.”