Foreign secretary James Cleverley hits out at calls for ceasefire in Gaza

FOREIGN Secretary James Cleverly hit out at calls for a ceasefire in Gaza – saying terrorists Hamas have never suggested they would stick to it anyway.

He also warned Brits on marches calling for a truce that some groups will use the demos to try to manipulate them and spread disinformation.

Iranian agents are reportedly trying to use the Gaza protests to stoke unrest in Britain.

Mr Cleverly said: “Calls for a ceasefire in the abstract aren’t going to help the situation.

“We have consistently sought to bring about pauses to facilitate the inward passged of humanitarian aid we are providing and the release of hostages and the evacuation of British hostages in Gaza.

“That is the situation from the start.

“Of course we want to see this resolved. We want to see Israel safe, peaceful and secure.

“I have seen and heard nothing from Hamas that gives me any confidence that they even desire or would abide by calls for a ceasefire.”

Britain has been pressing Israel to let humanitarian aid into Gaza, he said.

But he warned that Hamas store weapons and operate out of “civilian infrastructure” – effectively using the population of Gaza as human shields around them.

He added: “Of course we are having conversations and will continue to have conversations with the Israeli military about the preservation of civilian life, about the adherence to international law.

“But they do have a right to self-defence and throughout this operation, since the atrocities of October 7, Hamas and other terrorist organisations have consistently bombarded Israel from Gaza, from among civilian infrastructure.”

In a message to Brits taking to the streets in pro Palestine protests, he added: “It is perfectly possible to support the Palestinian people but also to condemn Hamas.

“But, sadly, we do see people being manipulated, subject to disinformation, distortion, and sadly I do think a minority — a small minority — within those protests have got very much more negative aims.

“I would say to everyone involved in the protests, be conscious of this, be conscious about disinformation and manipulation.”