Words can feel futile at a time like this. If they could make a difference, they would probably have done so by now. Decades of violence and hatred have largely proved immune to the power of the spoken word to find a peaceful solution in the Middle East. But words are all that British politicians have in the present circumstances. And you have to keep on believing even when it looks like we’re heading towards another war. At the very least, though, words can acknowledge the horror. To recognise its existence, even when powerless to influence the outcome. So that no one’s pain, no one’s loss, no existential threat is covered up or minimised. To stand up and be counted. A message of support at a time of grief. A fury contained. So the prime minister made a rare appearance in front of a packed Commons on the first day back after the conference recess to make a statement on the violence in Israel and Palestine. Rishi Sunak began by calling out the murderous attacks by Hamas on 7 October for what they were. Pogroms. The word was chosen deliberately. They were acts of barbarism. Attempted genocide. He and the country stood with Israel. Sunak then shared his sympathy for British Muslims who were equally appalled by Hamas – 2,600 Palestinians had died in Gaza. They must not be forgotten and a humanitarian disaster must be averted. He stood firm against Islamophobia. We expected Israel to act according to the rule of law. He still believed in a two-state solution. These last two sentences were said as more a prayer than conviction. Fingers crossed. Something totally out of his hands. He could make the phone calls, could receive the bland reassurances but was in effect helpless to make sure promises were kept. A lesson in hubris for any prime minister. Especially for Sunak, who is used to being treated as a special case. We would hear a lot of the two-state solution. As if wanting it could make it so. Reason has long since left the argument. Still, it was about as measured and statesmanlike a statement as we could have wanted under the circumstances. One that expressed horror, applied guilt, showed compassion for the victims on both sides and begged for a humanitarian response. Rishi couldn’t really do any more. It was also a statement that was more or less mirrored by the one that followed from the Labour leader. The words might have been in a different order, but the sentiments were largely the same. Parliament was speaking with one voice, Keir Starmer said. There was no division between the government and the opposition on this. Israel was the victim of terrorism and had the right to defend itself. Hamas does not speak for most Palestinians and the Israeli response must be within international law. He too wanted a two-state solution. Good luck with that. “Westminster is united,” he said. “The country is united.” But is it really? Several Jewish schools have had to close due to threats of antisemitic attacks. Many Jews feel as if they are on their own in this. That they have been abandoned yet again in their time of need. Many Muslims feel the Tories and Labour are willing to turn a blind eye to Israeli retaliatory strikes on Palestinians in Gaza. That mere lip service is being paid to international law as fuel and water supplies are cut off and the seriously ill are advised to leave hospitals in the north of the territory. We feel more divided than ever. The conflict in the Middle East has merely exposed fault lines at home. The Scottish National party’s Stephen Flynn quoted Robbie Burns. Man’s inhumanity to man. He too talked of the abhorrent attack on Israel and the need to protect innocent Palestinians. “History will judge us,” he concluded. It almost certainly will. And we might not all like the verdict. Thereafter we got two hours of contributions from MPs from both sides of the house. It wasn’t strictly a debate. More a coming together, as most people were largely in agreement. Sure, there was nuance. More Labour MPs called for greater humanitarian support for the Palestinians than Tories, but they were by no means lone voices. The Tories Andrew Selous and Crispin Blunt were keen to remind the prime minister of his obligations to those stranded in Gaza. The closest we got to extremes were Labour’s Afzal Khan demanding Sunak reiterate his commitment to fighting Islamophobia and the vilification of Muslims, and the Tory Michael Ellis insisting Israel was within its rights to defend itself. Hardly controversial stuff. Even Richard Burgon was at pains to call Hamas a terrorist organisation and demand that hostages be released. Before suggesting Israel may have committed war crimes. There was a general amnesty on the BBC. Which was something of a miracle. Maybe it would have been different if Jeremy Corbyn had been in the chamber. Though even he might have drawn the line at calling Hamas “friends” under the circumstances. Or maybe not. Just after 5.30pm, the deputy speaker called it quits. There were still 50 or so MPs bobbing up and down hoping to have their say, but Eleanor Laing had had enough. It wasn’t as if anyone was likely to have anything new to say, and there were three more ministerial statements to get through. Sunak probably wouldn’t have minded staying another half-hour or so. Anything to make sure that his government’s enforced prison reforms, the cancellation of HS2 and the watering down of net zero got as little airtime as possible. He may be able to play the statesman but he’s useless at running the country. It’s still a shitshow. Would the Israel and Gaza statement make any difference? Probably not. Though it was better that it was heard than left unsaid. For those of us in the UK at any rate. The chances of anyone in the Middle East listening in were nil. Though if they were, I hope they had zoned out before the later statements. Otherwise they would have been left with the distinct impression that we weren’t a country to be taken seriously. Depraved New World by John Crace (Guardian Faber, £16.99). To support the Guardian and Observer, pre-order your copy and save 18% at guardianbookshop.com. Delivery charges may apply.