A senior British Conservative MP has called on Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to appoint a Middle East peace envoy to show the UK is serious about ending the conflict between the Palestinians and Israelis.
Alicia Kearns, chairwoman of the House of Commons foreign affairs committee, stressed the need to ease violence in the region.
Thousands of Israeli troops were sent into the occupied West Bank on Monday, with drones used to strike at Palestinian militants in a refugee camp.
The raid on the Jenin refugee camp is reportedly the largest operation in the area during more than a year of fighting.
Health officials said at least eight Palestinians were killed in the attack. It came alongside violence between Jewish settlers and Palestinians in the occupied West Bank, which recently led to the deaths of four Israelis.
As the House of Commons considered proposals aimed at banning UK local councils from taking part in the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement, Ms Kearns stressed the need for a renewed peace effort from the government.
Violence in Jenin - in pictures
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Smoke rises among buildings during the Israeli military operation in Jenin camp, in the West Bank. EPA -
Palestinians run during clashes with the Israeli army on the second day of the military operation in Jenin camp. EPA -
Palestinians protest along the Israel-Gaza border fence in Khan Younis, in the southern Gaza Strip, against the Israeli army raid in Jenin. Reuters -
Israeli armoured vehicles during a continuing operation in Jenin city in the occupied West Bank. AFP -
Members of the Palestine Red Crescent Society help refugees evacuate Jenin camp in the occupied Palestinian West Bank on the second day of an Israeli military operation. EPA -
Palestinians sleeping outside Jenin hospital as Israeli forces raid the refugee camp in the city. EPA -
Closed shops in Jerusalem's Old City as a general strike over the Israeli military operation in Jenin takes place. Reuters -
An Israeli armoured vehicle fires tear gas in Jenin city. AFP -
An injured man is taken to hospital. AFP -
Israeli troops patrol a blocked-off street in Jenin. AFP -
Rubble strewn in the street in the occupied West Bank city of Jenin. AFP -
Palestinians carry water to help families who fled their homes in Jenin, in the occupied West Bank. EPA -
Residents evacuate the Jenin refugee camp during an Israeli attack. AFP -
A child carrying a cat during the evacuation. Reuters -
A crowd looks towards an armoured vehicle during the Israeli attack. Reuters -
Palestinians clash with Israeli military forces. EPA -
Smoke billows from an Israeli drone strike in Jenin. AFP -
An injured Palestinian is carried into a hospital. AP -
Palestinian youths run for cover. AFP -
Palestinian armed militants take up position during a confrontation with the Israeli army. AFP -
A Palestinian militant engages with the Israeli military. EPA -
Smoke rises as the Israeli military conducts air raids in Jenin. EPA -
An Israeli army bulldozer drives through Jenin. AFP -
Tyres on fire in a street during an Israeli military raid. Reuters -
An injured man is transported on a stretcher at a hospital in Jenin. Reuters -
A man sits on a street in Jenin during the Israeli raid on Monday. Reuters -
Smoke rises over Jenin during Monday's Israeli military operation. Reuters -
Aerial vehicles fly over the Israeli-occupied West Bank during the military operation in Jenin. Reuters -
Smoke billows from houses inside a refugee camp adjacent to Jenin after an Israeli strike. AFP -
Paramedics rush an injured man into a hospital in the occupied West Bank city of Jenin after an Israeli strike on Monday. AFP
“I would also ask while we are on this subject, because I have never felt that we are so close to conflict, particularly following this morning’s news, particularly the chance that we may be seeing a third intifada, that we may be seeing the Gaza crisis 2023, we need to demonstrate meaningful resolve from [the Foreign Office] in ending the conflict and de-escalating," she said.
“I would urge the Prime Minister to appoint a Middle East peace envoy because we do not have any envoy from the Middle East, let alone one focusing exclusively on the Middle East peace process.
“We should be worried, because what happens in Palestine and Israel impacts around the world.
“I stress that this is a low-commitment ask, but one that would allow us to live up to our responsibility and demonstrate meaningful resolve.”
