In a slip of the tongue, during his inaugural speech to the Labour Party conference as Prime Minister, Keir Starmer called for a ceasefire in Gaza and the return of
“sausages” before quickly correcting himself to say “hostages.”
“I call again for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, the return of the sausages … the hostages and a recommitment to the two-state solution, recognised Palestinian state alongside a safe and secure Israel,” Starmer said.
However, the slip up seemingly did not detract Starmer from his overall message in calling for a two-state solution, “recognised Palestinian state alongside a safe and secure Israel.”
While the slip was On Tuesday, following a series of Israeli air strikes that claimed over 550 lives in Lebanon, Starmer urged both Israel and Hezbollah to de-escalate tensions.
The situation escalated further as Israeli forces killed a senior Hezbollah commander, exacerbating the conflict. In response, Hezbollah launched numerous rockets into Israel, targeting an explosives factory, which forced families into bomb shelters.
As thousands fled southern Lebanon, many sought refuge in Beirut and Sidon, where schools were converted into shelters. Some attempted to leave the country, resulting in heavy traffic at the border with Syria.
The UN reported that tens of thousands had been displaced by the ongoing Israeli air strikes, labelling the situation as “extremely alarming.” UN refugee agency spokesperson Matthew Saltmarsh expressed grave concern about the recent escalation, noting that the number of displaced persons continued to rise.
Since Hamas’s attack on Israel on October 7, cross-border exchanges of fire between Hezbollah and Israel have intensified. The bombardment of Lebanon on Monday marked the largest escalation since the 2006 conflict between Israel and Hezbollah.