Like so many people across the country, I have been left utterly devastated by the reports of the many deaths and the attacks on civilian targets on every side of the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas. Every loss of life is a tragedy and sets back the prospect of peace further.

Along with my fellow Sheffield Labour colleagues, I have written to the Prime Minister calling for an immediate humanitarian pause to military activity by all parties, in line with the call by the US Secretary of State Antony Blinken. This will save Palestinian and Israeli lives and will avoid the danger of escalation into a regional and wider conflict.

This is an urgent situation and innocent Palestinians need to know the world is not simply watching, but acting, to prevent a humanitarian catastrophe. Hamas may not care for the safety and security of the Palestinian people, but we do. We cannot and will not close our eyes to their suffering.