Rishi Sunak and Benjamin Netanyahu in Tel Aviv on Thursday Photo: Simon Walker/10 Downing Street
Britain wants for Israel to «win» and stand by the country in its «darkest hour» after the Hamas attack, Rishi Sunak said during his visit to Tel Aviv on Thursday.
The Prime Minister said Israel had suffered from «an unspeakable, horrifying act.» «terrorism» on October 7, as Hamas militants rampaged through the south of the country, killing 1,400 Israelis and taking more than 200 hostages.
«I want you to know that the UK and I stand with you,» Mr Sunak said shortly after landing in Tel Aviv.
His trip came on the heels of a visit by US President Joe Biden, as Western allies tried to balance support for Israel with efforts to prevent the conflict from further escalating and spreading to the wider region.
“We will stand in solidarity with you. We will be together with your people. And we want you to win too,” Mr Sunak told reporters, speaking alongside Benjamin Netanyahu.
His meeting with the Israeli prime minister marked the start of a two-day trip to the Middle East that will include a visit Prime Minister to Israel. Saudi Arabia.
“First and foremost, I am here to express my solidarity with the Israeli people,” Mr. Sunak said just hours after Mr. Biden left.
Hamas “is pure evil,” he added. , and Israel “represents pure evil.” it is not just a right,” but also a “duty” to restore one’s security after the group’s attack.
But he warned: “It is important that the conflict does not escalate into a regional scale. That's why I communicate with as many people as possible throughout the region.»
Mr Sunak also thanked Israel for its help in trying to free British hostages captured during the Hamas attack and met relatives of those held captive. The attack killed at least nine British citizens and left seven more missing.
«Palestinians are victims too»
During his visit on Wednesday, Mr. Biden struck an agreement with Israel and Egypt to allow aid trucks to enter Gaza through the Rafah border crossing to ease what the United Nations says is an acute humanitarian crisis in the enclave.
More than 2.3 million people are trapped in the densely populated area, which is under a complete blockade and heavy Israeli bombing after the Hamas attack.
More than 3,700 people have been killed in the Israeli response, according to Palestinian health officials. strikes.
Mr Sunak thanked the Israeli leader for authorizing aid to the Gaza Strip. Supplies entering the territory through the Rafah crossing require Israeli approval.
“We also recognize that the Palestinian people are also victims of Hamas. And that is why I welcome your decision yesterday, which you took to ensure that routes into Gaza will be open for humanitarian aid to flow in,” he said.
Mr Netanyahu, meanwhile, used a joint press conference couples to echo Winston. Churchill.
“Eighty years ago, Prime Minister, the civilized world supported you in your darkest hour,” he said.
“This is our darkest hour. This is the world's darkest hour. We need to stick together and we will win.»
Prime Minister of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Photo: Simon Walker /No. 10 Downing Street
Mr Sunak said: «You describe this as Israel's darkest hour, well then I can say I'm proud of it.» to stand here with you in Israel's darkest hour as your friend, who will stand with you in solidarity, who will stand with your people, and we also want you to win.»
He also thanked Israel for the support «provided to the families of British citizens caught up in this horror, including your efforts to free the hostages and secure their release.»
«And I know that we will continue to cooperate, especially with regard to the British citizens.»
Mr Sunak said he had heard from families suffering «unbearable agony» over the seizure of their children after Downing Street published a photograph of him hugging an unnamed woman.
'Overwhelmed by rage'
The PM's next stop is… Minister became Riyadh, where he met with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who was on the verge of agreeing to normalize relations with Israel before the Hamas attack.
Meanwhile, James Cleverley, the Foreign Secretary, plans to take part in a parallel round of diplomatic visits to Egypt, Turkey and Qatar in the coming days to underscore the UK's message.
“It's not in anyone's interests — neither Israel, nor in Palestine, nor in a broader sense. The Middle East — so that others are involved in this conflict,” said Mr. Cleverley.
“I am meeting with colleagues from influential states in the region to achieve calm and stability, facilitate humanitarian access to Gaza and together work to free the hostages.»
Mr Biden has previously used his visit to Israel. strongly support the country, but urged it not to be «consumed» by anger after the Hamas attack and not make the same «mistakes» the US made after September 11.
Tom Tugendhat, the security secretary, said British intelligence agencies were all are still working to establish the facts surrounding the explosion that occurred earlier this week at Ahly Arab Hospital in the Gaza Strip.
Hamas officials said hundreds of people were killed in an Israeli air strike on Gaza City. hospital, but Israeli forces said the explosion was caused by a Palestinian Islamic Jihad rocket misfiring that landed in the facility's parking lot.
He accused some of «irresponsible speculation» which he said led to Arab leaders canceling scheduled talks with the US president.
“The reason we will be so careful on this issue is because there is a price to pay for premature speculation,” Tugendhat told Times Radio.
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“Let's be clear that promised talks between President Biden and some Arab leaders have in fact begun, and irresponsible speculation has led to some of those leaders walking out because they felt it would be inappropriate to discuss such issues. after Israel was blamed for the attack.
“It now appears that this was speculation at best, and propaganda at worst for a terrorist organization.”
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