MORE than 300 MPs and peers from all main parties have sent an unprecedented message of support to Israel’s President Isaac Herzog – including 12 members of the Cabinet and several Labour shadows, including David Lammy, the shadow foreign secretary.

The message says they are “united in condemning Hamas’s unprovoked, surprise attack against Israel and its civilians” describing it as a “futile attempt to harm the movement for peace across the region as Israel and its Arab neighbours work jointly for a future of shared prosperity”.

It also points out “the violence has been indiscriminate with people of all faiths, ethnicities and backgrounds targeted,” adding: “As members of all of the UK’s main political parties we stand in solidarity with Israel and its right to self defence at this time of great need.”

 It is highly unusual for ministers and their opposition counterparts to sign a joint statement of this kind. It comes after Prime Minister Rishi Sunnak and Foreign Secretary James Cleverly unequivocally condemned the Hamas terrorist attack and expressed backing for Israel.

 Calling the message “historic”, Tory MP Bob Blackman, who is chair of the Britain-Israel All-Party Parliamentary Group, said it “reasserts our shared condemnation of the Hamas terror group and restatement of Israel’s absolute right to self-defence. We will continue to stand beside Israel at this unimaginably difficult time”.

 The signatories include security minister Tom Tugendhat, Chancellor Jeremy Hunt, former Tory leader Sir Iain Duncan-Smith, Trade Secretary Kemi Badenoch, Leader of the House Penny Mordaunt and JC columnist Lord Finkelstein. Among the Labour signatories are Steve McCabe MP and former minister Lord McNicol.