The Labour leader said ministers “cannot turn a blind eye to such wanton disregard for international law” as he called for Britain to review its arms sales to the country.

The Government implored Israel to show “greater restraint” in its effort to defend its borders after troops killed at least 55 Palestinians protesting on the day the new US embassy was opened in Jerusalem.

The Foreign Office said that while the country had the right to shore up its frontier against protesters, “the large volume of live fire is extremely concerning”, in what has been the deadliest outbreak of violence in the region since the 2014 war.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said his military was acting in self-defence against Gaza’s Islamist rulers, Hamas, who he said wanted to destroy Israel.

Meanwhile the Palestinian Authority’s leader said the action represented a “massacre”, while the UN spoke of “outrageous human rights violations”.

Mr Corbyn said in a statement that action was needed “to hold those responsible to account”.

“This slaughter follows weeks of killings of Palestinian civilians demonstrating for their right to return, most of whom are refugees or the families of refugees,” the Labour leader said.

“Coming on the day President Trump moved the US embassy to Jerusalem, it underlines the threat to peace posed by the continuing and intolerable injustices faced by the Palestinian people.

“The response from many western governments to this flagrant illegality, including our own – which bears a particular responsibility for a peaceful and just resolution of the Israel-Palestine conflict – has been wholly inadequate.

“They should take a lead from Israeli peace and justice campaigners: to demand an end to the multiple abuses of human and political rights Palestinians face on a daily basis, the 11-year siege of Gaza, the continuing 50-year occupation of Palestinian territory and the ongoing expansion of illegal settlements.

Mr Corbyn added: “We cannot turn a blind eye to such wanton disregard for international law. That is why Labour is committed to reviewing UK arms sales to Israel while these violations continue.

“The international community must at last put its collective authority and weight behind achieving a lasting settlement that delivers peace, justice and security for both Israelis and Palestinians, who have waited so long to achieve their rights.”