UK minister says risk Israel is not acting in 'legitimate self defence'

The United Kingdom does not support the Israeli army's expansion of its military offensive in Gaza, the UK's Middle East minister Hamish Falconer told parliament on Wednesday as Israeli officials declared a plan to seize "large areas" of Gaza.

"We are deeply concerned about the resumption of hostilities in Gaza. The UK does not support an expansion of Israel's military operations," Falconer said.

He added that there is a "serious risk Israel is not simply acting in its own legitimate self defence".

Asked about Israel's full ban on aid to Gaza, Falconer said: "we have determined that there is a serious risk of breaches of international humanitarian law by the Israeli government. We will continue to press them on these points."

“Aid should never be used as a political tool, Israel must restart the flow of aid immediately. Blocking goods supplies and power entering Gaza risks breaching international humanitarian law and should not be happening. We’re doing everything we can to alleviate that situation.”