Ceasefire in Gaza is 'key' to de-escalation in Lebanon, UK cabinet minister says

Steve Reed describes latest images of the war as 'heartbreaking' as he calls for ceasefire

Environment secretary Steve Reed spoke on behalf of the UK's Labour government on Sunday. PA

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Achieving a ceasefire in Gaza is “key” to preventing a regional escalation of the war, a UK cabinet minister has said, as fighting between Israel and Lebanon’s Hezbollah intensified.

Israel targeted Hezbollah bases in Lebanon overnight in response to a deadly attack on the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, which Israel blamed on the Iran-backed militia.

The Israeli military's claim that it was ready to step up the fighting has led to warnings against all-out war with Lebanon and the possibility of a regional war.

“The situation in Lebanon is worrying and has been going on for some time. The key to all of this is getting that ceasefire in Gaza,” Environment Minister Steve Reed said on Sunday.

“Anyone that has seen the latest images, like so much of what we’ve seen in recent months, it is heartbreaking to see what’s going on. It’s such a painful human reminder of why we need to get to a situation where the fighting can stop,” Mr Reed said.

That ceasefire, he said, would need to be “respected by both sides”, with the “immediate release of hostages and unimpeded aid into Gaza so that they can start to rebuild”.

This would be followed by “pressure from the whole international community” to work towards a two state solution.

The UK's new Labour government has reversed key Conservative decisions on Israel since it came into power in July.

This includes restoring funding the Palestinian refugee agency UNRWA and dropping the UK's challenge to the ICC Prosecutor's request for the arrest warrant of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

The National revealed this week that Attorney General Richard Hermer had been to Israel to discuss the Labour government’s ICC decision and other changing policies towards Israel.

Foreign Secretary David Lammy is expected to make a decision on a possible limited ban on arms sales to Israel next week.

Speaking on Sky News, Mr Reed denied suggestions his party had made its calls for a ceasefire more “conditional” on Hamas’ release of the hostages since it came into government in July.

“I don’t think that’s different than what previous government was saying. If there is to be a ceasefire it cannot be one-sided. Both sides have to respect it otherwise it isn’t a ceasefire, it’s one side standing down,” he said.

The international community needed to work together to bring about an end to the fighting and pave the way for a two-state solution, he added.

“It’s very important that the entire international community is working in concert, I don’t think it helps if one country takes a different position, to bring about an end to the fighting that we want to see,” he said.

“That in turn is only the first step to bring about the longer peace.”

Mr Lammy condemned the strike on Golan Heights in a post on X, adding that he is deeply concerned about the risk of further escalation and destabilisation.

"We have been clear Hizballah must cease their attacks," Mr Lammy said.

More than 39,300 people have been killed in the enclave according to the Gaza Health Ministry. Israel launched its campaign in response to Hamas' October 7 attacks on Israel which killed about 1,200 people.