LONDON

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani discussed developments in the Middle East on Wednesday, stressing the need for de-escalation and diplomacy.

During a phone call with the Qatari emir, Starmer reiterated the UK’s support for Qatar as the two leaders discussed how both countries could further support regional stability, said a statement from the British Prime Minister's Office.

Regional tensions have escalated since Friday, when Israel launched airstrikes on multiple sites across Iran, including military and nuclear facilities, prompting Tehran to launch retaliatory strikes.

Israeli authorities said at least 24 people have been killed and hundreds injured since then in Iranian missile attacks.

Meanwhile, in Iran, 585 people have been killed and more than 1,300 wounded in the Israeli assault, according to Iranian media reports.

"Turning to Gaza, the Prime Minister reiterated the intolerable situation on the ground and underlined the UK’s support for an immediate ceasefire," the Prime Minister's Office said.

The Israeli army, rejecting international calls for a ceasefire, has pursued a brutal offensive against Gaza since October 2023, killing more than 55,600 Palestinians, most of them women and children.

Last November, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.

Israel also faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice for its war on the enclave.