UK Prime Minister Sunak in Israel, Talks with Netanyahu and Herzog

Simon Dawson / No 10 Downing Street

UK Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak has embarked on a diplomatic visit to Israel, meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Isaac Herzog. Downing Street announced the foreign excursion, which will see Sunak visiting several other regional capitals, details of which are currently undisclosed due to security considerations.

Expressing Solidarity with Israel

Sunak’s visit comes amid a tense regional climate, following a devastating explosion at the al-Ahli Arab hospital in Gaza, which resulted in numerous casualties. The UK Prime Minister expressed his firm solidarity with the Israeli populace, condemning the act of terrorism they endured. His visit to Israel followed a meeting between US President Joe Biden and Netanyahu in Tel Aviv.

Blast at Gaza Hospital: Investigation Underway

The cause of the blast at the Gaza hospital is being investigated by British intelligence. The Israeli military has presented evidence suggesting that the explosion was a consequence of a misfired rocket launched by Islamic Jihad, a militant group that has since denied responsibility for the incident.

Humanitarian Aid to Gaza and Call for De-Escalation

In light of the recent incident, Netanyahu stated that Israel would permit Egypt to send a limited amount of humanitarian aid to Gaza. Sunak has pledged to advocate for this action to take place as swiftly as possible and to facilitate the evacuation of UK nationals stranded in Gaza. He characterized the hospital attack as a pivotal moment that should prompt global and regional leaders to unite in preventing further escalation of conflict.

Foreign Secretary Cleverly’s Visit to Egypt, Turkey, and Qatar

In related news, UK Foreign Secretary James Cleverly is set to visit Egypt, Turkey, and Qatar. During a recent parliamentary session, Cleverly, like his counterpart Sunak, urged against hasty conclusions about the Gaza hospital explosion, warning that such judgments could exacerbate instability in the Middle East and disrupt community cohesion in the UK.

Sunak is expected to return to the UK on Friday afternoon. His talks in the region will be followed with great interest, as the international community seeks to navigate this volatile situation.