BIRMINGHAM, England 

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has refused to call for a cease-fire in Gaza once again, but acknowledged that it is "clear" the status quo is unsustainable.

In a questioning session at the House of Commons on Wednesday, Labour Party lawmaker Mark Hendrick told Sunak that Israel is provoking famine in Gaza and warns against its ground offensive in Rafah, a city in the south of the Strip, where many have sought shelter from the attacks.

Hendrick asked Sunak if he agrees with EU’s foreign affairs chief Josep Borrell who said Israel was using starvation as a tool of war.

Sunak refrained from giving a direct answer and said Israel should be allowing more aid into Gaza.

"The UK is doing all it can to get more aid in and to prevent this worsening crisis. We will do everything we can to alleviate the suffering the people are experiencing,” he said.

Hendrick later asked Sunak if he agrees with Borrell and US President Joe Biden that a cease-fire is needed.

Sunak said he explained the government's position and the findings of the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) report are "gravely concerning."

"We need urgent action now to avoid a famine," he added.

Whilst responding to a question about UK’s arms sales to Israel, the prime minister said there have been "too many" civilian casualties, and the UK wants to see Israel "take greater care to limit its operations to military targets".

Another Labour parliamentarian Tahir Ali asked if the prime minister will use "the small amount of time" he has left in government to join the 138 UN member states in recognizing the state of Palestine.

Sunak said he will do so "when it makes most beneficial sense for the overall peace process."