British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak talks with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (R) in Jerusalem on Thursday. Photo by Amos ben Gershom/EPA-EFE/Israel Government Press Office.
Oct. 19 (UPI) — British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak arrived in Israel on Thursday to commence a two-day visit to the Middle East for discussions with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Isaac Herzog.
Speaking at Tel Aviv airport, Sunak reaffirmed Britain’s continued support for Israel, denouncing Hamas’ assault on October 7 as an “unspeakable, horrific act of terrorism.”
“Above all, I’m here to express my solidarity with the Israeli people. You have suffered an unspeakable, horrific act of terrorism, and I want you to know that the United Kingdom and I stand with you,” Sunak said.
“I’m very much looking forward to my meetings later with the prime minister and president, and I sincerely hope they will be productive.”
Prior to the hastily announced visit, Sunak emphasized the need for a regional and international effort to prevent the Israel-Hamas conflict from escalating into wider hostilities in the wake of the blast at Gaza’s Al Ahli hospital that claimed hundreds of Palestinian lives.
“The attack on Al Ahli Hospital should serve as a turning point for leaders in the region and around the world to come together and prevent further dangerous escalation of the conflict. The UK will play a leading role in this effort,” Sunak stated.
During his address to Parliament, Sunak revealed that his country’s intelligence services were “actively analyzing the evidence to independently establish the facts” surrounding the hospital explosion that claimed the lives of at least 500 people.
He also committed to continuing “all efforts” to deliver humanitarian aid to the region.
Foreign Secretary James Cleverly, who returned to the region on Thursday, warned against rushing to judgment on the incident, citing potential dangers of escalating tensions in the Middle East and creating divisions in Britain.
Cleverly’s visit follows his high-level meetings in Egypt, Turkey, and Qatar last week, where he sought a peaceful solution to the conflict and the release of British hostages and foreign nationals. The Foreign Office stated that at least 7 Britons were among the 1,400 people killed in the Hamas attack, with another 10 believed to be held hostage in Gaza.
In his current visit, Cleverly aims to secure safe passage out of Gaza for British citizens trapped in the enclave, which has been under siege since October 7.
The British diplomatic efforts come a day after U.S. President Joe Biden, during his visit to Israel amidst the ongoing war, faced challenges with a planned regional summit in Jordan due to the hospital bombing. Nevertheless, he managed to secure an agreement to open the Gaza-Egypt border-crossing for the entry of humanitarian aid trucks.
