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“All sides must now step back from the brink and find the courage of restraint. There is no military solution to these challenges,” Starmer told MPs in a sombre House of Commons read more
 "UK's Starmer on West Asia conflict as Israel marks Oct 7 anniversary")
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer. AFP File
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Monday called on all sides in the West Asia conflict to “find the courage of restraint” as Israel marked the first anniversary of Hamas’ October 7 attack.
Speaking in parliament, the UK leader emphasised that the region “cannot endure another year of this” and that “civilians on all sides have suffered too much.”
“All sides must now step back from the brink and find the courage of restraint. There is no military solution to these challenges,” AFP quoted Starmer as saying to MPs in a sombre House of Commons.
His remarks came after an earlier statement on Monday in which he honored the victims of last year’s attacks, saying: “We stand together to remember the lives so cruelly taken.”
Starmer, who assumed office in early July, said that Britain “must unequivocally stand with the Jewish community and unite as a country,” in light of the recent rise in anti-Semitism across the UK.
“On this day of pain and sorrow, we honour those we lost, and continue in our determination to return those still held hostage, help those who are suffering, and secure a better future for the Middle East,” he was quoted as saying.
In his brief speech in parliament, Starmer said 15 British citizens were killed on October 7 in the attacks, and that another died while being held in captivity.
The Hamas onslaught left 1,205 dead on the Israeli side, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on the latest official Israeli figures.
Some 251 people were captured and taken as hostages to the Gaza Strip. Of those 97 are still held captive including 34 the Israeli military says are dead.
Starmer also noted that more than 41,000 Palestinians had also been killed in Israel’s military response, reiterating his calls for immediate ceasefires in Lebanon and Gaza, and more aid to be allowed into the latter.
Again urging British citizens in Lebanon to leave, the UK leader noted 430 people had already left the country on government chartered flights over the last week.
With inputs from agencies
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English (US) ·