The United Kingdom’s government has urged Israel to handle its detention of the Madleen aid vessel “safely with restraint, in line with international humanitarian law”, Al Jazeera reports.

Speaking to reporters during a Downing Street briefing, the prime minister’s spokesperson said: “We have made clear our position in relation to the humanitarian situation in Gaza. The PM has called it appalling and intolerable.”

The UK is pushing for increased humanitarian access to the besieged territory, the spokesperson added.

“We have made it very clear we must get more aid into Gaza. The unimpeded entry of assistance at scale to meet the enormous needs in Gaza is critical.”