Sir Keir Starmer is under increasing pressure to recognise a Palestinian state, with 221 MPs signing a cross-party letter demanding he take the step.

The letter is being organised by the Labour backbencher Sarah Champion, who also sits as the International Development Committee chair.

They write:"British recognition of Palestine would be particularly powerful given its role as the author of the Balfour Declaration and the former Mandatory Power in Palestine.

"Since 1980 we have backed a two-state solution. Such a recognition would give that position substance as well as living up to a historic responsibility we have to the people under that Mandate."

Earlier this month, nearly 60 Labour MPs called on David Lammy and the Foreign Office to immediately recognise Palestine as a state in a private letter, but this new call shows how dissatisfied many still are with the government's refusal to change its stance on the issue.

As Number 10 came under growing pressure, Sir Keir on Friday released a statement on Gaza calling the"appalling scenes" in the Strip "unrelenting".

Israel has denied there is a food shortage in Gaza - despite earlier this week more than 100 aid agencies warning of mass starvation in Gaza - and claims it had to take control of the supply and distribution of aid because Hamas fighters have been stealing aid before it reached civilians. Hamas has denied this, as have some humanitarian groups, including USAID.

Talking about the need for a regional"lasting peace", the prime minister said:"Recognition of a Palestinian state has to be one of those steps. I am unequivocal about that. But it must be part of a wider plan which ultimately results in a two-state solution and lasting security for Palestinians and Israelis."

In light of a tweet by the French President Emmanuel Macron, also sent last night, declaring France would recognise a Palestinian state in September at a UN conference, a number of MPs now say Number 10's current position is untenable.

"They had said they wanted to be in lockstep with allies, but this means that position won't hold," said one Labour MP.

US President Donald Trump, speaking to reporters at the White House before heading to Scotland, was dismissive of Mr Macron's statement."What he says doesn't matter," he said."He's a very good guy. I like him, but that statement doesn't carry weight."

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said: "We strongly condemn President Macron's decision to recognise a Palestinian state next to Tel Aviv in the wake of the October 7 massacre. Such a move rewards terror and risks creating another Iranian proxy, just as Gaza became.

"A Palestinian state in these conditions would be a launch pad to annihilate Israel - not to live in peace beside it.

Peter Kyle, the technology secretary, on Friday morning defended the government's resistance to calls for immediate UK recognition of a Palestinian state.

"We want Palestinian statehood. We desire it, and we want to make sure the circumstances can exist where that kind of long-term political solution can have the space to evolve and make sure that it can become a permanent circumstance that can bring peace to the entire region," he told Sky News.

"But right now, today, we've got to focus on what will ease the suffering, and it is extreme, unwarranted suffering in Gaza that has to be the priority for us today."

An emergency call with Germany and France was scheduled for Friday to discuss what Sir Keir described as a "human catastrophe" which has "reached new depths".

The Foreign Office has maintained it is committed to recognising a Palestinian state but has expressed a willingness to do so only when it will have the"most impact in support of a peace process".