Palestinians who lost family members in Gaza meet Keir Starmer

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer met Palestinians who have "lost loved ones" in Gaza on Tuesday, saying he was "humbled by their immeasurable grief".

This meeting was the first between a large Palestinian contingent and a British leader since Labour entered government in July.

Starmer met them in Downing Street alongside Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner, Hamish Falconer, the Middle East minister, and Hussam Zomlot, the Palestinian ambassador to the UK.

"This horrific suffering must end, there must be an immediate ceasefire, and Israel must let unrestricted aid into Gaza now," Starmer said on social media platform X after the meeting.

The community members included those who had children and babies killed and wounded by Israel in the besieged strip.

Those attending urged the prime minister to evacuate injured children needing life-saving medical care in the form of a "Child Evacuation Scheme".

The project would initially provide life-saving medical treatment for 15 critically injured children from Gaza, based on Ireland's decision to take in 30 pediatric patients from Gaza.

Under the plan, the British government would coordinate travel permits, medical visas, and safe transport, community members said.

Keir Starmer Palestinian families — Prime Minister Keir Starmer meets Palestinians who lost family members in Gaza, on Tuesday 22 October (Screengrab/X)