British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has reiterated calls for an investigation into the killing of 15 Palestinian medics in Gaza by Israeli forces, warning that continued hostilities in the besieged enclave are a step in the wrong direction.

Speaking before the Commons Liaison Committee on Tuesday, Starmer responded to mounting pressure from MPs over the UK's stance on Israel’s military actions and long-standing occupation.

Referring to the March 23 airstrike that targeted a convoy of ambulances in southern Gaza, killing eight paramedics from the Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS), the Prime Minister said: “There’s got to be an investigation into that, and we have to be absolutely clear that we’re not just talking about that isolated incident.”

His comments came just days after the PRCS released footage from the phone of one of the medics killed, which it said provided clear evidence of a “fully fledged war crime.” The Israeli military, while acknowledging the strike, claimed the attack followed a “perceived threat” and alleged that six of those killed were Hamas operatives, though no evidence was provided to support the claim.

Starmer, a former international human rights lawyer, emphasized the UK's responsibility to uphold international law. “We are critical of Russia as the aggressor in Ukraine because it’s in breach of the UN charter that is a rules-based system,” he noted.

When pressed by Labour MP Sarah Champion about the UK’s legal obligations under the UN resolution concerning the occupation, Starmer stated unequivocally: “I think the occupation is unlawful, we’ve said that, that’s been longstanding government policy.”

The Prime Minister also addressed the worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza, where more than 50,800 Palestinians — the majority of them women and children — have been killed since Israel launched its large-scale assault in October 2023.

“There hasn’t been enough aid getting into Gaza at speed, at pace, for a very long time,” he said. “The resumption of hostilities is the wrong move in my view. We need to get back to a ceasefire. We need to get aid in. We need to get the hostages out.”

The PRCS and international human rights groups have called on the UK and other world powers to support an independent international investigation into the March 23 killings. With pressure mounting at home and abroad, Starmer’s latest statements reflect a growing concern over Israel’s conduct and a shift in tone within UK foreign policy debates.