Keir Starmer is expected to urge Donald Trump to do more to bring peace to the Middle East during state visit talks on Thursday, after Israel launched its ground assault on Gaza City.

The Prime Minister and Foreign Secretary condemned the “unbearable humanitarian catastrophe” taking place in Gaza, but stopped short of endorsing a UN commission report ruling that Israel was committing genocide in the territory.

However, Starmer risks a collision course with the US President over the issue of Israel’s latest military assault on Gaza, and on Palestinian statehood, with the UK still planning to recognise the state at the UN general assembly next week unless Israel agrees to a number of conditions.

The issue of the Middle East has shot up the agenda for the mini-summit at Chequers after

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