Lammy says Gaza is ‘imaginative and prescient of hell on earth’ in plea for ‘horrific warfare’ to finish

David Lammy has said the “horrific war” in the Middle East must end – after warning stopping arms sales to Israel could lead to more bloodshed.

He doubled down on calls for an immediate ceasefire, saying Gaza is now “a vision of hell on earth”. It comes as Iranian-backed Hezbollah fired a barrage of rockets into Israel in retaliation for last week’s pager and walkie-talkie attacks.

The group’s deputy leader Naim Kassem said an “open-ended battle of reckoning” was underway, sparking fears of an all-out war. Mr Lammy voiced his alarm about Iran, which he said was destabilising the region amid fears of strikes on Israel.

Responding to calls for the UK to stop all export licences for weapons to Israel, Mr Lammy said this would be a “mistake”. Earlier this month the Government suspended 30 of these licences amid concerns about Israel’s compliance with international law.

Pressed on whether he would go further, he told a fringe event at the Labour Party Conference in Liverpool, Mr Lammy said: “We have suspended those licences that could be used to breach international humanitarian law in Gaza.”

He said it wouldn’t be right to block weapons that Israel could use against the Yemen-based Houthis or “other proxies in the area”. Mr Lammy continued: “I think that would be a mistake.

“It would lead to a wider war and an escalation that we here in the UK are committed to stopping, so I’m afraid I disagree with that position.” Demanding an immediate ceasefire, Mr Lammy said: “Our message to all parties is clear: we need an immediate ceasefire from both sides so that we can get to a political settlement.”

He said the UK had “called out the violent settlers in the West Bank, while fighting for the return of Israeli hostages seized by Hamas in the October 7 atrocity last year. Mr Lammy said: “I believe in the right of Israel to be safe and secure.

“I also believe in the justness of the Palestinian cause.” He said the “worrying escalation” between Israel and Lebanese Hizballah is “in nobody’s interest”.

The Foreign Secretary said: “And to British nationals still in Lebanon, let me say clearly: for your own safety, leave now.” He accused Iran of destabilising the Middle East after the head of the Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), Hossein Salami, warned of a “crushing response” to Israel’s pager attack last week.

This saw hundreds of pagers and walkie-talkies believed to be used by Hezballah fighters explode simultaneously. At least 37 were killed and thousands were injured.

Mr Lammy told delegates: “Iran is not only destabilising the Middle East but providing support to Putin’s barbaric war through exporting ballistic missiles. That is why we put new restrictions on Iran Air that will stop it entering the UK and new sanctions against the IRGC.”

Hezbollah bombed complexes belonging to Rafael Company, which specialises in electronic means and equipment. The Israeli army said most of the 150 rockets were intercepted but some homes and businesses were hit.

Video footage showed a residential building on fire in Kiryat Bialik, close to the northern port city of Haifa. Hospital staff in the city were forced to relocate patients to an underground car park during the attack.

Hezbollah described the bombardment as the “initial revenge” for the pager and walkie-talkie attacks. The strikes hit towns further south in Israel than at any point since the current conflict began almost a year ago.

UN official Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert said the Middle East is “on the brink of an imminent catastrophe”. Israel continued attacking targets in Lebanon, killing at least three people. The funeral took place in Beirut for Hezbollah military commander Ibrahim Aqil, who was killed in an Israeli airstrike on Friday. 32 civilians and other Hezbollah officials were killed in the same attack.

39 people were killed and thousands wounded after pagers and walkie-talkies used by Hezbollah exploded in two days across Lebanon. Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah blamed Israel for the attacks, saying it had crossed “all red lines” and vowed “just punishment”.

Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu said his country will take “whatever action is necessary to restore security”. He added: “No country can accept the wanton rocketing of its cities. We can’t accept it either.”