Keir Starmer has urged all sides to pull back from the brink in the Middle East as he addressed the House of Commons on the anniversary of the 7 October attack by Hamas on Israel.<\/p>\n

With Israel yet to decide how to respond to Iran\u2019s unprecedented missile strike last week<\/a>, the prime minister said he supported \u201cIsrael\u2019s right to defend herself against Iran\u2019s aggression, in line with international law\u201d.<\/p>\n

But he added: \u201cThe region cannot endure another year of this. Civilians on all sides have suffered too much. All sides must now step back from the brink and find the courage of restraint.\u201d<\/p>\n

Starmer described the firing of 180 missiles at Israel as \u201cnot a defensive action by Iran, it was an act of aggression \u2026 in response to the death of a terrorist leader\u201d. Iran\u2019s attack was prompted by the Israeli killing of the Hezbollah<\/a> leader, Hassan Nasrallah, in Beirut 10 days ago.<\/p>\n

He said Hezbollah had fired a year-long barrage of attacks at Israel, forcing 60,000 people to flee from their homes, and said UN resolutions required Hezbollah to move back to north of the Litani River.<\/p>\n

Starmer also indicated the UK would take no part in any retaliation by Israel against Iran.<\/p>\n

Referring to the 7 October attack, he told MPs: \u201cNobody in this house can truly imagine what it feels like to cower under the bodies of your friends hoping a terrorist won\u2019t find you, mere minutes after dancing at a music festival.<\/p>\n

\u201cNobody in this house can truly imagine seeing your city, your homes, your schools, your hospitals, your businesses obliterated, with your neighbours and family buried underneath. It is beyond our comprehension, and with that should come a humility.\u201d<\/p>\n

He said the first anniversary of the 7 October attack was also a \u201cday of grief\u201d for the wider Middle East.<\/p>\n

\u201cOver 41,000 Palestinians have been killed, tens of thousands orphaned, almost 2 million displaced, facing disease, starvation, desperation, without proper healthcare or shelter,\u201d Starmer said. \u201cIt is a living nightmare and it must end.\u201d<\/p>\n

Although he admitted the chances of a ceasefire seemed remote, let alone a two-state solution, Starmer said diplomacy was slow and required the UK to work in unity with international partners. He added that Palestine deserved recognition as a state but said this should happen at the point of maximum impact.<\/p>\n