A Downing Street spokesperson said:
The Prime Minister spoke to Prime Minister Netanyahu earlier this evening about the situation in Israel and Gaza. The Prime Minister noted the ongoing rocket attacks from Hamas and reiterated the UK’s strong support for Israel’s right to take proportionate action to defend itself from them. The Prime Minister expressed condolences for the deaths of Israeli troops and concern about mounting civilian casualties in Gaza. The Prime Minister agreed with Prime Minister Netanyahu that the way out of the spiral of violence was for both sides to observe a lasting ceasefire in line with the initiative that was put forward by Egypt.