Sir Keir Starmer used his first speech as prime minister at the United Nations General Assembly to call for a de-escalation of tensions in the Middle East.

He said world leaders assembled in New York should work collaboratively towards “preventing a regional war in the Middle East” and called on Israel and terrorist group Hezbollah to “stop the violence” and “step back from the brink”.

Starmer continued: “We need to see an immediate ceasefire to provide space for a diplomatic settlement, and we are working with all partners to that end.

“Further escalation serves no one”, he said, and added that it “offers nothing but more suffering for innocent people on all sides and the prospect of a wider war that no one can control, and with consequences that none of us can foresee.”

The prime minister linked the rising tensions between Israel and Hezbollah with the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, and told the assembled diplomats that: “It shames us all that the suffering in Gaza continues to grow.”

The Labour leader said a diplomatic solution was needed “to the release of all the hostages” held by Hamas in Gaza and ensure “the unfettered flow of aid to those in need”. He added that the long-term political solution was “the long-promised Palestinian state alongside a safe and secure Israel.”

During his time in New York, the Starmer met Middle East leaders including Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati and Palestinian Authority President Mahmood Abbas. He also met Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.

The JC understands that the prime minister did not meet Israel’s Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu. However, Downing Street sources insisted this was not a snub and that the government is “in touch with the Israelis all the time”.

Last week, the Israeli leader called the decision by Starmer’s government to suspend some arms sales to Israel “misguided”.

Starmer also had his first ever meeting with US Republican Party presidential candidate Donald Trump last night. A British government source told the BBC that the pair "discussed the longstanding friendship between the UK and the US”.

Speaking to reporters ahead of the meeting, the former president said he thought Starmer was “very nice” and that he “ran a great race” in July’s general election campaign.