PM flies to Israel for meetings aimed at preventing ‘escalation of conflict’ with Hamas
Rishi Sunak will meet with Benjamin Netanyahu and Isaac Herzog on Thursday, before taking part in talks in other regional capitals on two day visit
Rishi Sunak is travelling to Israel for meetings early on Thursday with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Isaac Herzog before travelling to a number of other regional capitals for further talks.
Downing Street confirmed the two-day trip on Wednesday night, along with a parallel visit to Egypt, Turkey and Qatar by foreign secretary James Cleverly.
Ahead of the trip to Israel, the PM said of the tragic loss of life in a Gaza hospital blast:“Every civilian death is a tragedy. And too many lives have been lost following Hamas’ horrific act of terror.
“The attack on Al Ahli Hospital should be a watershed moment for leaders in the region and across the world to come together to avoid further dangerous escalation of conflict. I will ensure the UK is at the forefront of this effort.”
In his meetings No.10 said Sunak will share his condolences for the terrible loss of life in Israel and Gaza in the last two weeks as a result of Hamas’ brutal terrorist attacks.
He will stress that any civilian death is a tragedy and tell fellow leaders that, as an international community, we must not let Hamas’ barbaric terrorism and disregard for human life become a catalyst for further escalation of conflict in the region.
This visit follows Israel’s announcement that the route into Gaza will be opened up to allow humanitarian aid to enter.
Sunak will press for that to happen as soon as possible to allow the UK to deliver the uplift in humanitarian aid announced earlier this week and to enable British nationals trapped in Gaza to leave.
Defence Secretary Grant Shapps also met his counterpart in Washington on Wednesday to coordinate our response to the crisis.
Sunak previously met with Netanyahu earlier his year at Downing Street.
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