The UK government has concluded that Israel is not committing genocide in Gaza but “must do much more” to prevent and alleviate the suffering.

Britain’s position was clarified by David Lammy, as foreign secretary until a few days ago, in response to questions from the chair of the International Development Committee, Sarah Champion.

In a letter, dated 1 September, he wrote that “the crime of genocide occurs only where there is specific ‘intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnic, racial or religious group.’

“The government has not concluded that Israel is acting with that intent.”

Previously, the government’s position had been that it was for an international court to decide if Israel was committing genocide.

Israel has strongly denied that its actions in Gaza amount to genocide, but is being challenged on the issue in a case at the International Court of Justice in The Hague.

The world’s leading association of genocide scholars, as well as several Israeli human rights organisations, have already accused the country of genocide.

Mr Lammy, who was replaced by Yvette Cooper as foreign secretary during Sir Keir Starmer’s recent reshuffle, also criticised the “catastrophic humanitarian situation” in the region.

Lammy: Destruction is ‘utterly appalling’

“The high civilian casualties, including women and children, and the extensive destruction in Gaza, are utterly appalling,” he wrote.

“Israel must do much more to prevent and alleviate the suffering that this conflict is causing.”

Israel struck and destroyed another high-rise building in Gaza City on Monday after warning residents to evacuate.

The military said it was targeting Hamas observation posts and bombs placed around the 12-story office building, though has not provided evidence for this claim.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has told residents they should leave the city immediately.

On Monday, a flotilla aiming to transport humanitarian aid to Gaza claimed one of its boats was struck by a drone on Tuesday in Tunisian waters, suffering fire damage.

None of the passengers or crew on the Portuguese-flagged vessel were hurt, the Global Sumud Flotilla (GSF) said in a statement.

But a spokesperson for Tunisia’s National Guard rejected GSF’s reports of a drone strike and told Mosaique FM radio that an initial inspection indicated the explosion originated inside the vessel.

Israel has imposed a naval blockade on the coastal enclave since Hamas took control of Gaza in 2007, saying it aims to stop weapons from reaching the militant group.

Israeli weapons ban ‘antisemitic’

Meanwhile, Spain has banned ships and aircraft carrying weapons to Israel from calling at Spanish ports or entering its airspace, because of Israel’s military offensive in Gaza.

The measures were described as antisemitic by Israeli foreign minister, Gideon Saar.

Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez’s government also said it would not allow anyone who has participated directly in “genocide” in Gaza to enter Spain.

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Deadly bus stop shooting

Israel suffered its deadliest shooting since October 2024 on Monday, when gunmen opened fire at a bus stop in Jerusalem, killing six people and wounding another 12.

An Israeli soldier and civilians who were at the scene shot and killed the two attackers, said police, who later arrested a third person.

Israel’s Shin Bet internal security agency said the two attackers, aged 20 and 21, were Palestinians from the West Bank with no prior arrests.

The militant group Hamas did not say it was behind the attack but called it a “natural response to the occupation’s crimes against our people”.

Starmer holds talks with Abbas

President Mahmoud Abbas, head of the Palestinian Authority (PA), condemned “any targeting of Palestinian and Israeli civilians” and “denounced all forms of violence and terrorism, regardless of their source,” according to a statement from his office.

Mr Abbas visited Downing Street on Monday evening for discussions with Sir Keir Starmer.

Following the talks, the prime minister’s spokesperson said they spoke about “the intolerable situation in Gaza” and how to secure “enduring peace and stability for both Palestinians and Israelis”.

“The president welcomed the prime minister’s pledge to recognising (sic) a Palestinian state ahead of the UN General Assembly meeting later this month, unless Israel changes its course,” the statement added.

Isaac Herzog, the president of Israel, is also set for meetings with the UK government in the next few days.

France’s prime minister has failed in a last-minute bid to save his job, with the country’s National Assembly ousting him in a confidence vote.

Francois Bayrou – who entered office just nine months ago – is required to submit the resignation of his minority government after losing Monday afternoon’s vote by an overwhelming 364-194.

The outgoing prime minister is paying the price for what appeared to be a staggering political miscalculation, as he gambled that lawmakers would back his view that France should slash public spending to address its growing economic issues.

Analysis: Macron has few good options amid a worsening crisis

Earlier in the day, Mr Bayrou called for unity as he attempted to win support for both his premiership and his ambitious plan to curb France’s public spending.

Arguing the country’s spiralling public deficits are threatening the future of the European Union’s second-largest economy, Mr Bayrou said state debts will weigh on future generations and leave France vulnerable to foreign creditors.

“Our country works, thinks it’s getting richer, but keeps getting poorer,” he said, pausing for sips of water when hecklers tried to drown him out.

Mr Bayrou had proposed to cut a huge €44bn (£38.1bn) in spending in 2026.

But his plan – which included the removal of two public holidays – was heavily criticised by his political rivals, who sensed a golden opportunity to bring him down.

Addressing the confidence vote, he said: “Our country has an urgent need for lucidity, it has the most urgent need for unity. But it is division that threatens to prevail, that threatens its image and reputation.”

Mathilde Panot of the hard-left France Unbowed, told Mr Bayrou in the debate before the vote: “Today is a day of relief for millions of French people, of relief over your departure.”

Marine Le Pen said: “This moment marks the end of the agony of a phantom government.”

What happens next?

France’s President Emmanuel Macron now faces finding another government chief – the country’s fourth in 12 months – after Mr Bayrou tenders his resignation on Tuesday.

Mr Macron is facing a narrowing set of options, and financial markets are signalling worry at France’s political and financial crisis.

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He could nominate a politician from his own centrist minority ruling group for the top job, or someone from the ranks of conservatives, but that would mean doubling down on a strategy that has failed to secure stability.

Mr Macron could also nominate someone on the left, but no scenario is likely to hand the next government a majority.

The president has so far resisted calls from France’s far-right and far-left factions to call a snap election as he did in June last year – which was the root of the latest government collapse.

At least five people have been killed in a shooting in Jerusalem, authorities have confirmed.

Footage showed dozens of people fleeing from a bus stop during the morning rush hour.

Paramedics who responded to the scene said the area was chaotic and covered in broken glass, with people wounded and lying unconscious on the road and a pavement near the bus stop.

Police said two attackers were “neutralised” soon after.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is now holding an assessment with his heads of security.

Around 15 people were injured – with six in a serious condition – after it appeared two attackers boarded a bus and opened fire as it reached a major intersection at the northern entrance to Jerusalem, on a road that leads to Jewish settlements in east Jerusalem.

Israeli Defense Force soldiers were dispatched and are searching the area for any other suspects. They are also searching several areas on the outskirts of Ramallah.

A spokesperson for Israeli emergency services, MDA, confirmed four deaths – a man about 50 years old and three men aged around 30.

The fifth victim, a woman about 50 years old, was confirmed at hospital.

Paramedics have evacuated from the scene other casualties in serious conditions with gunshot wounds, to hospitals in Jerusalem.

Several people with minor injuries from glass shards are being treated at the roadside.

The motive for the shooting and who carried it out, was not immediately clear.

The war in Gaza has sparked a surge of violence in both the Israeli-occupied West Bank and Israel.