Sunak: There’s ‘no link’ between military strikes on Houthis with ‘situation in Gaza’

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has told MPs that there is “no link” between British and American military strikes against the Houthis in the Red Sea and “the situation in Israel and Gaza.” 

He was backed in this claim by Labour leader Keir Starmer who said Houthis attacks on ships in the Red Sea “do nothing for the Palestinian people.”

In a Commons statement on Tuesday, the prime minister said the UK decided to join the airstrikes against the Houthis on Monday in response to intelligence showing they presented an ongoing threat to British shipping.

He told MPs:” Last night, we hit two military sites just north of Sana’a, each containing multiple specific targets, which the Houthis used to support their attacks on shipping.

“I’m also pleased to say that our initial analysis from last night’s strikes is also that all intended targets were destroyed.”

But the PM also stressed:”I repeat that there is no link between our actions of self defence in the Red Sea and the situation in Israel and Gaza.”Those who make that do the Houthis work for them.”

He said the evidence showed Houthis had attacked multiple vessels with no link to Israel, and that Yemen itself had said the militants actions had no link to Israeli actions.

Sunak said the Houthis were using the situation for “self propaganda” purposes.

The PM added:”Those here at home who glorify the Houthis attacks are glorifying terrorism” adding they would be met with a “zero tolerance approach” from the government.

Sunak also told MPs the latest airstrikes were only part of a “wider response” to the Houthis being taken by the government.

He said the government was increasing diplomatic engagement in the region, working to end the supply of arms to the Houthis, using sanctions to try to cut off their funding and delivering humanitarian aid to help people in Yemen who have suffered from the civil war.

Sunak also backed calls for an immediate sustainable ceasefire in the conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, but only the condition the terror group released all the hostages taken on October 7th.

Starmer also called for a “humanitarian truce” to stop the killing in Gaza, but with “the space for the return of all hostages” and for humanitarian aid to enter the region.