By NewsBits
British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has arrived in Israel to meet with his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu.
“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,” Mr Sunak posted on X.
The British leader landed in Israel on Thursday to demonstrate solidarity with Israel following the ongoing war that had sprouted from the October 7 rampage by Hamas gunmen on Israel. His visit is part of the efforts of world leaders to prevent the conflict with Hamas from spilling into the wider region.
“Above all, I’m here to express my solidarity with the Israeli people. You have suffered an unspeakable, horrific act of terrorism, and I want you to know that the United Kingdom and I stand with you,” Mr Sunak told journalists upon arriving in Israel.
The British prime minister also urged the opening up of a route to allow humanitarian aid to be delivered into Gaza from Egypt as soon as possible amid war and to enable British nationals trapped in Gaza to leave.
Mr Sunak is to meet with Mr Netanyahu on Thursday before visiting other regional capitals and also offer his condolences for the civilians killed so far in the Hamas-Israel war. Before his trip, Mr Sunak stated, “Every civilian death is a tragedy, and too many lives have been lost following Hamas’s horrific act of terror.”
Meanwhile, alongside Mr Sunak’s visit, British foreign secretary James Cleverly will meet leaders in Egypt, Turkey, and Qatar in the coming days to seek support for a peaceful resolution in Israel and Gaza.
The foreign secretary will meet with senior leaders there to prevent the conflict from spreading and push for an agreement on humanitarian access to Gaza and the release of British hostages held by Hamas.
