United Kingdom Prime Minister Rishi Sunak extended a robust show of solidarity with Israel on Monday, condemning the recent devastating attacks that caused a significant loss of life in the nation. During his address in the House of Commons, Sunak assured Israel of unwavering support from the UK in the wake of the tragic events.
“The attacks in Israel last weekend have sent shockwaves across the globe. More than 1,400 people were brutally killed, over 3,500 injured, and almost 200 were taken hostage. Among the victims were elderly individuals, men, women, and even defenseless children and infants, who were brutally murdered and subjected to unspeakable atrocities. We stand in solidarity with Israel during this challenging time. Among the casualties were six British citizens, and we are actively working to assess the situation swiftly and provide assistance to those affected,” Sunak asserted in Parliament.
Directly addressing the British Jewish community, Rishi Sunak reiterated the UK’s unwavering support, acknowledging the profound impact of the attacks on Israel’s identity as a safe homeland for the Jewish people. He reassured the community that all possible measures would be taken to ensure their safety and security.
“Hamas is using innocent Palestinian people as human shields. With the tragic loss of more than 2,600 Palestinian lives, including many children, we mourn the loss of every innocent life. Civilians of every faith, every nationality, who have been killed…I believe we must support Israel’s right to defend itself, to go after Hamas, take back the hostages, deter further incursions, and strengthen its security for the long term,” he said, emphasizing the tragic loss of life on both sides.
Rishi Sunak also stressed the significance of providing humanitarian aid to the people of Gaza, acknowledging that Palestinians are also victims of Hamas’s actions. Urging for immediate aid delivery, he emphasized the necessity for cooperation between Egypt, Israel, and other relevant parties to facilitate the provision of essential support.
“We must support the Palestinian people because they are victims of Hamas too. We believe that Hamas does not represent the Palestinian people or their legitimate aspirations to live with equal measures of security, freedom, justice, opportunity, and dignity,” Rishi Sunak added, emphasizing the need for humanitarian aid to reach civilians in Gaza promptly.
Additionally, Rishi Sunak mentioned his recent conversation with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, expressing support for efforts aimed at regional stability. He underlined the UK’s commitment to using diplomatic channels to promote peace and security in the region, emphasizing the importance of achieving a two-state solution for lasting peace.
“I have spoken with Prime Minister Netanyahu twice in the last week, along with the United States, France, Germany, Italy, and others. My Right Honourable friend, the Foreign Secretary, was the first to visit Israel after the attack. I met with the King of Jordan yesterday, a longtime voice of reason and moderation, and I have spoken today with the leaders of Turkey and previously Egypt and will speak to others in the coming days. Our partners in the region have asked us to play a role in preventing further escalation.
That is what we will do, however hard it is. We need to ask the tough questions about how we can revive the long-term prospects for a two-state solution for normalization and regional stability,” Rishi Sunak said, highlighting the UK’s active engagement with global leaders to de-escalate tensions and promote peace in the region.
Having consistently supported Israel in the fight against terrorism, Rishi Sunak reiterated the UK’s firm stance against terror and the deployment of military resources to bolster regional stability and aid humanitarian efforts in response to the Hamas terrorist attacks in Israel.
“The UK will always stand with our allies against terror. Following the Hamas terrorist attacks on innocent victims in Israel, I have deployed our world-class military to bolster regional stability, prevent further escalation, and aid humanitarian efforts,” Rishi Sunak wrote on ‘X’, underscoring the UK’s commitment to combatting terrorism and ensuring regional stability.
Meanwhile, the Israeli military’s anticipated ground invasion in the Gaza Strip remains contingent on operational considerations, as tensions escalate on the northern border. Israel’s National Security Council head Tzachi Hanegbi reaffirmed the government’s commitment to removing Hamas from military and political control over the Gaza Strip, following recent approvals in a cabinet meeting.
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