In a bid to prevent the conflict with Hamas from escalating further, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has arrived in Israel to press for the urgent delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza. This visit follows closely on the heels of President Biden’s visit as world leaders heighten their efforts to resolve the situation in the region. During his time in Israel, Sunak is scheduled to meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday before proceeding to other regional capitals. He intends to express his condolences for the civilians who have tragically lost their lives during the ongoing war.
Sunak’s visit to Israel was confirmed on Wednesday evening, although reports of his plans had emerged earlier in the week. Concurrently, British Foreign Secretary James Cleverly is embarking on a diplomatic mission to Egypt, Turkey, and Qatar to seek support for a peaceful resolution in Israel and Gaza. Cleverly will focus on securing an agreement regarding humanitarian access to Gaza and the release of British hostages held by Hamas. Notably, Defence Secretary Grant Shapps has already engaged in discussions with US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin in Washington to coordinate their approach to the crisis.
The British government is determined to employ all available diplomatic channels promptly as they anticipate Israel’s ground offensive in Gaza. The visits by senior British ministers are in the wake of President Biden’s trip to Israel, which was marred by a devastating explosion at a Gaza City hospital on Tuesday. While Biden supported Israel’s account that a failed rocket launched by Palestinian militants caused the blast, Palestinian officials claim that an Israeli airstrike hit the hospital. Sunak emphasized that British intelligence services are diligently investigating the incident to determine responsibility and cautioned against hasty judgments.
In a subsequent statement, Sunak stressed the urgent need for world leaders to come together to prevent further escalation of the conflict following the attack on Al-Ahli Hospital. He pledged that the UK would be at the forefront of these efforts. To show solidarity with the victims, hundreds of protesters gathered outside Downing Street in London for a vigil on the eve of Sunak’s trip. Meanwhile, King Charles made an impassioned plea for religious tolerance and mutual respect in the face of the “international turmoil” in Israel and Gaza.
The Prime Minister’s visit to Israel coincides with Israeli warnings of an impending ground offensive in Gaza, heightening concerns about the dire humanitarian situation. Following the unprecedented Hamas attack on Israel on October 7th, Israeli warplanes and artillery have been relentlessly bombarding Gaza, resulting in the deaths of over 3,000 people. As a response, Israel has imposed restrictions on fuel, water, food, and medical supplies, and demands the release of hostages held by Hamas. This has led to over a million people being displaced within Gaza, exacerbating the scarcity of essential supplies in one of the world’s most densely populated territories.
Despite President Biden’s announcement of an agreement with Israel to facilitate the movement of humanitarian aid from Egypt into Gaza, Israel refuses to permit aid passage through its own territory until Hamas releases the hostages. Sunak has assured that the UK is working tirelessly to secure the freedom of hostages taken by Hamas. Tragically, seven British nationals have been confirmed dead, with an additional nine still missing as a result of the attack on Israel.
As Rishi Sunak lands in Tel Aviv to advocate for prompt humanitarian assistance, the world waits to see whether his diplomatic efforts, along with those of other international leaders, can succeed in de-escalating the crisis in Israel and Gaza.