Israel Gaza: Netanyahu vows Hamas will pay heavy price over hostage deaths as UK suspends arms exports

Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed that Hamas will “pay a heavy price” for the death of six hostages in Gaza .

In a press conference, he said: “ Israel will not accept the massacre of six hostages. Hamas will pay a heavy price.”

He was speaking after 24 hours of major protests in Israel after the death of the hostages on Sunday.

Protesters demanded that Netanyahu cease prosecuting an offensive in Gaza and prioritise returning the hostages still alive in the Hamas-controlled enclave. Several dozen of the 251 originally taken, of whom around half remain in Gaza, have been killed.

It comes as British foreign secretary David Lammy announced that the UK is suspending 30 of the 350 arms export licences to Israel.

The decision has been made after the new Labour government said it found a “clear risk” that UK arms could be used in serious violation of humanitarian law relating to the treatment of Palestinian detainees and the supply of aid to Gaza.

Mr Lammy insisted, however, that “Throughout my life I have been a friend of Israel”.