A controversy erupted on social media between North East MPs after a rocket hit a hospital in Palestine as the conflict in the Middle East intensifies. 

Conservative MP for Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland Sir Simon Clarke hit out at fellow Teesside MP Andy McDonald after a series of tweets regarding an explosion at Al-Ahli Baptist Hospital, Palestine, on October 18.

The blast, which Prime Minister Rishi Sunak today (October 24) said was caused by a "missile launched from within the region towards Israel", was initially disputed as both Palestine and Israel blamed each other for the attack.

Read more: ‘Everything’s gone’ in home burnt by Hamas, says British-Israeli man

Reacting to the explosion soon after the incident, Labour MP Mr McDonald took to twitter and branded the explosion a "war crime" and hit out at the "collective punishment the civilian population of Gaza".

Conservative MP Simon Clarke drew attention to his statements, re-tweeting and agreeing with the words of former Labour MP for his constituency Tom Blenkinsop who called Mr McDonald's stance "unbelievably irresponsible".

Following the tweets, a statement released by Sir Simon said: “The Middlesbrough Labour Party is now in open dispute as it becomes steadily more apparent how much the stain of the Corbyn years continues to lurk just below its surface.

“This is an enormously sensitive moment both at home and abroad, and what British MPs say really matters - as both Rishi Sunak and Keir Starmer emphasised this week.

“In this context, for Andy McDonald, without evidence, to accuse Israel of committing a war crime by bombing the Al-Ahli Hospital is ‘unbelievably irresponsible’.

“That’s not my verdict - that’s the judgement of the former Labour MP for Middlesbrough South, Tom Blenkinsop, and I agree with him.  

“MPs owe it to our own Jewish and Muslim populations, as well as the wider cause of not escalating this conflict, not to make inflammatory claims based on less than all the facts.

“The American government has concluded Israel was not responsible for this awful incident, while our own intelligence agencies are conducting an investigation.  Yet shamefully Mr McDonald is uncritically regurgitating the line of a terrorist organisation, Hamas.”

Yesterday (October 23), The Prime Minister told the Commons the UK is still committed to a two-state solution to bring peace to Israel and Palestine.

Read next on the conflict in the Middle East:

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“Our support for a two-state solution is highly valued across the region, but it can’t be a cliched talking point to roll out at times like this,” Mr Sunak said.

While he said other important steps had been taken in recent years including normalisation of the relationship between Israel and Saudi Arabia, the Prime Minister added: “We must never lose sight of how essential the two-state solution is.

“So we will work together with out international partners to bring renewed energy and creativity to this effort.”

He added: “It will rely on establishing more effective governance for Palestinian territories in Gaza and the West Bank, it will also mean challenging actions that undercut legitimate aspirations for Palestinian statehood.”

Mr McDonald has been contacted for comment.