Starmer: Further escalation serves no one. It offers nothing but more suffering

ALL-OUT war in Lebanon will have "consequences that none of us can foresee", the Prime Minister warned last night.

- Christian Calgie

Sir Keir Starmer spoke at the United Nations hours after Israel rejected US plans for a 21-day ceasefire.

He told the UN General Assembly: "Around the world, more fires are breaking out and burning with even greater intensity."

"Exacting a terrible toll in Gaza, Lebanon, Ukraine, Sudan, Myanmar, Yemen, and beyond." Sir Keir called the myriad conflicts "a catastrophe made by human hands" that was stalling progress in tackling poverty and disease.

Calling on Israel and Lebanese militant group Hezbollah to "step back from the brink", the PM declared: "Further escalation serves no one. It offers nothing but more suffering for innocent people on all sides.

"And the prospect of a wider war, that no one can control, and with consequences none of us can foresee." The speech came after Israel's PM delivered a crushing blow to US President Joe Biden's hopes that a ceasefire could begin and prevent a ground invasion of Lebanon.