Israeli minister met David Lammy on ‘private’ visit to UK, Foreign Office says

Activist groups make request for arrest warrant to be issued for Gideon Sa'ar after unannounced trip to London

The UK Foreign Office has confirmed that the foreign secretary, David Lammy, met his Israeli counterpart, Gideon Sa'ar, while Sa'ar was on an unannounced visit to London.

The Foreign Office described Sa'ar's visit as private", though it said Lammy had discussed a full range of Middle East issues with the Israeli foreign minister. News of Sa'ar's presence in the UK - at a time when Israel is intensifying its offensive in Gaza, having ended a ceasefire last month - has triggered outrage among critics of Israel, and a formal request from activists for an arrest warrant to be issued against him on charges of alleged complicity in war crimes.