Britain will evacuate critically ill children from the Gaza Strip, Sir Keir Starmer has said, as aid groups warned that around a third of Palestinians in the war-torn enclave have gone without food for days.

The UK is preparing to parachute aid into Gaza to help ease starvation among Palestinian civilians, including children, which has provoked global horror. Diplomatic sources told The i Paper that work is under way between Britain and international allies to start dropping aid from aeroplanes after Israel said deliveries can start on Friday.