British Prime Minister Keir Starmer met his Lebanese counterpart at the United Nations and discussed the importance of an immediate ceasefire and a negotiated solution in the conflict with Israel, his office says.

Starmer met Lebanon’s Najib Mikati at the United Nations General Assembly.

“The Prime Minister opened by giving his sincere condolences to Prime Minister Mikati for the loss of civilian life in recent weeks,” the statement said.

“They discussed the escalating conflict in Lebanon, and agreed on the importance of an immediate ceasefire and a negotiated solution.”

The UK joins the US and France in a group of Israel’s close allies calling publicly for a ceasefire, despite Israel’s continuation of its intense bombing campaign against Lebanon this week.

None of the above-mentioned countries has offered consequences for Israel if it continues to kill civilians.