The Israel-Hamas war “must end”, Rishi Sunak has said in a statement marking six months since the 7 October attacks which sparked a brutal conflict in the
Middle East. The Prime Minister said that half a year on, “Israeli wounds are still unhealed” while “the toll on civilians” in
Gaza continues to grow, with “hunger, desperation [and] loss of life on an awful scale”. He reiterated calls for an immediate humanitarian pause in the region leading to a sustainable ceasefire, insisting it was the “fastest way to get hostages out and aid in and to stop the fighting and loss of life”. “This terrible conflict must end. The hostages must be released. The aid – which we have been straining every sinew to deliver by land, air and sea – must be flooded in,” the Prime Minister added. Mr Sunak said
Britain would “continue to stand by Israel’s right to defeat the threat from Hamas” but that “the whole of the
UK is shocked by the bloodshed, and appalled by the killing of brave
British heroes who were bringing food to those in need”. It comes amid growing pressure for the Government to toughen its stance on Israel after airstrikes by
Israeli MILITARY on Monday killed seven aid workers, including three Britons. The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) admitted its attack on aid vehicles belonging to the World Central Kitchen (WCK) was a “serious mistake”. Read Next Body of hostage recovered from Gaza, Israel claims The IDF fired two senior officers following an investigation into the drone strikes , which killed British WCK workers John Chapman, James Henderson and James Kirby, plus four others. MPs from across the political spectrum have urged the Government to suspend arms sales to Israel following the attack , though the Prime Minister is reportedly poised to resist the calls. The airstrikes have prompted growing frustration over Israel’s conduct during the conflict, with US President
Joe Biden earlier this week issuing his strongest rebuke towards Israel since the start of the conflict. Mr Biden called for an “immediate ceasefire” in Gaza during a 30-minute phone call with Israeli President
Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday, signalling a sharp change in rhetoric and a growing chasm between Israel and its closest ally. He said future US support for Israel would depend on President Netanyahu taking “measurable steps” to protect civilians in Gaza. It has raised questions over Washington’s supply of crucial military aid and diplomatic support for Israel, which has remained constant since the start of the conflict. At least 33,000
Palestinians have been killed in the 182 days since the war began, according to the Hamas-controlled health ministry. The figure is thought to be a conservative estimate, with concerns also intensifying that the death toll could continue to rise as the flow of aid to Gaza remains restricted. David Cameron, the Foreign Secretary, has demanded that 500 food trucks be allowed to enter Gaza daily, but an average of just 159 lorries per day have made the crossing in recent months. Around 1,200 people were killed during the 7 October attacks on Israel and more than 250 taken captive, according to Israeli authorities. Israel’s military said on Saturday it had recovered the body of a man taken hostage during the 7 October attacks and held in Gaza. The body of Elad Katzir was discovered in an overnight raid on Khan Yunis, after the Israeli citizen was taken hostage from Kibbutz Nir Oz during the Hamas attacks on southern Israel.