Desperate bid to stop crisis spiralling into wider war

World leaders issue joint appeal calling for Hamas to release hostages and aid to be allowed into Gaza as death toll grows

- Nicholas Cecil 

JOE BIDEN, Rishi Sunak and other world leaders today launched a joint bid to try to stop the horrific bloodshed in the Middle East escalating into a wider conflict.

They issued the appeal as Israel continued its heavy bombardment of Gaza following Hamas’s brutal terror attack, saying it had hit more than 320 targets in the besieged strip in 24 hours including a tunnel housing Hamas fighters, and dozens of command and lookout posts.

But the United Nations warned that civilians were running out of places to seek shelter in the 25-mile long, six-mile wide enclave, where more than a million of the 2.3 million population were said to have been forced from their homes in a growing humanitarian crisis.

As fears of a widening war grew, the US president, British Prime Minister and leaders of France, Germany, Italy and Canada issued a joint appeal to try to keep a lid on the violence which has already cost thousands of lives, including many children.

A No10 spokesman said: “The leaders reiterated their support for Israel and its right to defend itself against terrorism and called for adherence to international humanitarian law, including the protection of civilians.

“They welcomed the release of two hostages and called for the immediate release of all remaining hostages. They committed to close co-ordination to support their nationals in the region, in particular those wishing to leave Gaza.