The United Kingdom’s new Prime Minister Keir Starmer has called for “caution” on the border between Israel and Lebanon in his first telephone conversation with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu since he was elected.

According to Al Jazeera, Starmer told his Israeli counterpart that the “situation on the northern border of Israel was very concerning, and it was crucial all parties acted with caution”, said a spokesperson for his office at 10 Downing Street in London.

Starmer “set out the clear and urgent need for a ceasefire, the return of hostages, and an immediate increase in the volume of humanitarian aid reaching civilians”, his spokesperson said.

The UK prime minister also spoke by phone with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.

Starmer told Abbas his “long-standing policy on recognition to contribute to a peace process had not changed, and it was the undeniable right of Palestinians”, said the spokesperson.