In the last week, we have seen horrific scenes beamed out of Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories.

The attacks on Israeli civilians by Hamas were plainly acts of terrorism. By targeting innocent people and taking hostages, Hamas terrorists showed their true character.

The images and sounds of Israeli and Palestinian families wracked by grief and anguish over the loss of loved ones is first sickening, then disturbing. If you are anything like me, it interrupts your sleep with tormented fears for the innocents.

Israel has the right to defend the state and its people from attack, but allied governments such as ours have a responsibility to exercise caution. Support for the right to self-defence must not be seen by those who are inclined towards retribution as a blank cheque.

We have seen the response of Netanyahu’s government ramp up from retaliatory strikes, to a general mobilisation of reservists, and now to what some people refer to as a blockade or even a 'siege' of Gaza.

An estimated two million Palestinian people, including one million children - and Israeli hostages - are trapped in a small strip of land. At the time of writing, they are being denied food, water, electricity, and even humanitarian aid, with conditions deteriorating by the day.

Deliberate attacks against innocent civilians - wherever they may be - need to stop. In Afghanistan more than a decade ago, General Stan McChrystal adopted a new concept for NATO soldiers who were serving under his command: 'courageous restraint'. It was a recognition that even inadvertent civilian casualties damage your cause when you are carrying our counter-insurgency operations.

Liberal Democrats have always believed in the power of diplomacy and dialogue. These are the instruments we need our government to be championing right now, while standing by Israel in the face of international threats from terrorist groups and from Iran.

I am urging our Government to press the government of Israel to exercise restraint - and to act in full compliance with the spirit, as well as the letter, of International Humanitarian Law.

Calm heads must prevail. The captured citizens of Israel who are being held hostage must be released. An over-reaction could risk death and destruction for many more innocents. The UK’s efforts must be focused on preventing this.