TEL AVIV: Amid the ongoing conflict with Hamas, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak arrived in Tel Aviv for a two-day visit on Thursday hours after Egypt agreed to deliver limited humanitarian supplies into the Gaza Strip after intervention from US President Joe Biden. “I am in Israel, a nation in grief. I grieve with you and stand with you against the evil that is terrorism. Today, and always,” UK PM Rishi Sunak said in a post on X.
I am in Israel, a nation in grief.
I grieve with you and stand with you against the evil that is terrorism.
Today, and always.
סוֹלִידָרִיוּת pic.twitter.com/DTcvkkLqdT
— Rishi Sunak (@RishiSunak) October 19, 2023
Meeting With Israeli Leadership
During his visit, Sunak is scheduled to meet with Israel’s Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, and President Isaac Herzog. He will urge Middle East leaders to “avoid further dangerous escalation,” emphasizing that “too many lives have been lost” in the Israeli-Hamas conflict.
Sunak Presses For Humanitarian Aid, Evacuation Of British Nationals
Prime Minister Sunak will call for the immediate opening of a route for humanitarian aid into Gaza and the safe evacuation of British nationals trapped in the region.
UK Condemns Gaza Hospital Attack
Sunak condemned the attack on the al-Ahli Arab Hospital in Gaza on social media. “We are all shocked by the scenes at the al-Ahli Arab Hospital. Our intelligence services are rapidly analyzing the evidence to independently establish the facts,” he posted.
Israeli Counters Hospital Attack Claims
Tal Heinrich, a spokesperson for Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu, told CNN that the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) “does not target hospitals.” Heinrich emphasized that they only target Hamas strongholds, arms depots, and terror targets.
Casualties At Gaza Hospital
The attack on the Al-Ahli Baptist Hospital in Gaza City resulted in significant casualties, according to Palestinian sources. A Gaza civil defence chief claimed on Al-Jazeera television that over 300 people were killed in the hospital explosion. UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak expressed solidarity with Israel and its people. He affirmed the UK’s support for Israel, emphasizing the tragic loss of lives and injuries in recent events.
Sunak pointed out that Hamas is using innocent Palestinian people as human shields and mourned the loss of innocent lives. He expressed his belief in supporting Israel’s right to defend itself while also advocating for humanitarian aid for the people of Gaza.
US Announces Humanitarian Aid For Gaza
As part of efforts to de-escalate tensions due to the ongoing Israel-Hamas war, US President Joe Biden has confirmed that Egypt has agreed to open its Rafah border to allow the “sustainable” passage of humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip. In a phone call, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi and US President Joe Biden discussed ways to allow humanitarian aid into Gaza through the Rafah border crossing, the Egyptian Presidency said in a statement on Wednesday.
The talks between the two leaders focused “on the humanitarian situation in Gaza and ways to facilitate the implementation of humanitarian aid,” according to the statement. “Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and American President Joe Biden have agreed on the sustainable delivery of humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip via the Rafah terminal,” said presidential spokesperson Ahmed Fahmy, without specifying a date.
Egypt’s statement said officials in the two nations are coordinating with international humanitarian organizations — supervised by the United Nations — to deliver aid. “Biden expresses his thanks and appreciation for the efforts of the Egyptian leadership towards achieving peace and stability in the region,” the Egyptian statement said.
Russia Sends Humanitarian Aid To Gaza
Meanwhile, Russia today sent 27 tonnes of humanitarian aid for civilians in the Gaza Strip to be transported from Egypt, Moscow’s emergency situations ministry said. “A special plane has taken off from the airport at Ramenskoye near Moscow for El-Arish, in Egypt. The Russian humanitarian aid will be handed over to the Egyptian Red Crescent to be sent to the Gaza Strip,” Deputy Minister Ilya Denisov said in a statement.
Escalation Of Conflict
Thousands of lives have been lost on both sides as the conflict continues to intensify. International pressure is mounting for an immediate ceasefire and a return to the negotiating table to resolve the long-standing Israel-Palestine conflict.