London, Thanasis Gavos

The number of British nationals who have been confirmed killed in the Hamas attack in Israel has risen to seven, a Downing Street spokesman has announced.

A further nine Britons are still missing.

In the House of Commons, Foreign Minister James Cleverley announced that later today Wednesday he will travel again to the Middle East, while the information about a visit to Israel and possibly Jordan and Egypt by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has not yet been confirmed.

Mr Cleverley echoed Mr Sunak’s words on the need to avoid snap judgments on those responsible for the deadly Al Ahli hospital rocket attack, adding that all available evidence was being thoroughly analysed.

He also called on Israel’s armed forces to act in their response to Hamas with “professionalism” and “unwavering adherence to international law.”

He characterized the prevention of the spread of the conflict in the wider region as an “absolute priority” and restated the British commitment to a two-state solution in the Middle East.