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Rishi Sunak has recorded a clip for broadcasters from the JEF meeting in Sweden. Echoing the line used by Grant Shapps this morning (see 9.40am), he offered more or less unequivocal support for Israel. He downplayed the concerns about the legality of the Israeli operation, while saying the UK was aligned with Washington in wanting Israel to protect civilians as far as possible.

Asked if he had any sympathy for innocent Palestinians, many of whom have no affiliation to Hamas whatsoever who may lose their lives because of this", and if he had discussed their plight when he spoke to Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli PM last night, Sunak replied:

We're monitoring the situation very closely. We have formally updated our travel advice. And of course humanitarian concerns, and protecting the civilians, are very important. And this is something that I spoke to Prime Minister Netanyahu about late last night. It's also why we've moved Royal Navy assets into the Mediterranean over the coming week. They will be able to provide humanitarian support if required.

It's important to remember why we're in this very difficult situation, and that's because Hamas, a proscribed terrorist organisation, committed an appalling act and barbarity and has killed over 1,000 Israelis, including women and children, in scenes that are quite frankly horrific and that we haven't seen in decades.

It is unequivocally wrong, and there is no moral ambiguity about that.

Of course, we should always and we are always having concerns of civilians paramount in our mind, something I've discussed with Prime Minister Netanyahu myself.

And I'm aligned with what the secretary of state from the United States and the president have said, that, of course, Israel should take every possible precaution to protect civilians as they exercise their rightful ability to defend themselves.