SHOULDER TO SHOULDER
Sunak channels Churchill as he tells Netanyahu UK stands with Israel in its ‘darkest hour’ after Hamas massacre
RISHI Sunak vowed to "stand" with Israel as it faces its "darkest hour" amid fears the conflict will spiral into an all-out war in the Middle East.
The Prime Minister evoked wartime leader Winston Churchill as he met with his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu in the wake of Hamas' horror massacre.
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Amid growing fears the conflict in Gaza will spiral into an all-out war in the Middle East, insisted the UK "wants Israel to win" as the country weathers its "darkest hour".
The chilling phrase "the darkest hour" was used to describe an early period of the Second World War - and is widely attributed to Churchill.
Mr Sunak said today: "I'm proud to stand here with you in Israel's darkest hour as your friend.
"We will stand with you in solidarity, we will stand with your people. And we also want you to win."
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Mr Sunak also said he welcomed the decision to allow aid into Gaza.
He added: "Can I also say that we have seen the scenes over the past day that have shocked all of us, particularly at the hospital and we mourn the loss of every innocent life - civilians of every faith, every nationality who have been killed.
"And we also recognise that the Palestinian people are victims of Hamas too.
"And that is why I welcome your decision yesterday that you took to ensure that routes into Gaza will be opened for humanitarian aid to enter.
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"I'm glad that you made that decision. We will support it, we are increasing our aid to the region and we will look to get more support to people as quickly as we can."
Rishi Sunak also thanked Netanyahu for Tel Aviv's support in attempting to free British nationals who are being held hostage by Hamas.
In a press conference following their meeting, Mr Sunak said: "I want to thank you for the support that your government has given to the families of British nationals caught up in this horror, including your efforts to release the hostages, to secure their release.
"And I know that we will continue to co-operate, particularly with regard to British nationals that are involved."
The PM arrived in Tel Aviv today for a two-day visit, telling Israeli PM Mr Netanyahu as they embraced: "Hello my friend, very good to see you."
During his meeting with the Israeli President, Mr Sunak stressed "the imperative need to avoid further escalation of violence in the region."
He said: "We will stand with you in solidarity with your people and your right to defend yourself, to bring security back to your country to your people, to ensure the safe return of the hostages that have been taken.
"Palestinians are victims of what Hamas has done. It's important that we continue to provide humanitarian access."
It comes as
- Israel continues to prepare for a possible full-scale invasion of Gaza after the October 7 massacre by Hamas
- Joe Biden arrived in Israel yesterday and pledged his support for them against terror group Hamas
- US intelligence believe an explosion at a Gazan hospital that allegedly killed hundreds was caused by terrorists
- Fury is growing over the spread of Hamas "propaganda" in the West after Israel was wrongly accused of the blast
- Atrocities are still being discovered - including a massacre scene at a nursery in Kibbutz Be’eri
- Fears are growing the conflict could spiral into a large regional war drawing in Iran and Hezbollah
- 7 Brits have been killed and 9 are feared to being held as hostages in Gaza
In response, the Israeli President thanked Mr Sunak and noted that it was clear who are the "real friends of Israel."
He posted on X: "During such difficult days, we see clearly who are the true friends of the State of Israel.
"Thank you Prime Minister of the United Kingdom@RishiSunak for coming to Israel and for your support and firm stand by the Israeli people.
"It is time to express a clear moral voice - this is a battle for the values of all humanity.
"The world needs to understand that if we do not prevent Hamas and other terrorist organizations from carrying out murderous and criminal attacks - they will not stop with Israel."
A Downing Street spokesman said: "Both leaders underscored the need to prevent any regional escalation in the conflict and the importance of restoring peace and stability to the region.”
The PM was pictured embracing Israelis whose families have been taken hostage as he described it as "a parent’s worst nightmare."
He said in another X post: "To have a child taken from you is a parent’s worst nightmare.
"This morning I heard from families going through this unbearable agony.
"Working with our partners, we’re determined to secure the release of the hostages taken by Hamas terrorists."
The PM told reporters after landing at Ben Gurion International Airport: "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's visit comes after US President Joe Biden visited the wartorn country yesterday.
The US President said he was "sad and outraged" by the al-Ahli Hospital blast that killed hundreds but said it appears to have been done "by the other team."
He urged Israel not to be "consumed by" rage and to avoid making the same "mistakes" that the US did after September 11.
Mr Sunak is also set to travel to a number of regional capitals in a bid to prevent tensions from escalating further.
At least eight British nationals have been killed and at least nine are missing since the attack on Israel, Sunak's spokesperson confirmed on Wednesday.
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The IDF announced today there is a total of 203 people being kept hostage by Hamas.
Ahead of his trip, the Prime Minister said: "Every civilian death is a tragedy. And too many lives have been lost following Hamas's 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."
Alongside Sunak's visit, British Foreign Secretary James Cleverly, who visited Israel last week, will travel to Egypt, Turkey and Qatar over the next three days to discuss the conflict and seek a peaceful resolution, his office said.
Mr Cleverly said: "It is in no one's interests - neither Israeli, Palestinian nor the wider Middle East - for others to be drawn into this conflict.
"I am meeting counterparts from influential states in the region to push for calm and stability, facilitate humanitarian access into Gaza and work together to secure the release of hostages."
Cleverly will meet with senior leaders there to discuss efforts to prevent the conflict from spreading, the urgent need to open the Rafah crossing with Egypt to let aid reach those who need it and for Hamas to release hostages, Britain said.
Both sides blamed each other for the catastrophic blast at the Al-Ahli Hospital that reportedly killed hundreds of people.
Horror footage from the hospital showed the blaze engulfing the building, with the hospital's grounds littered with bodies, many of them young children.
Israeli military forces released evidence - including drone footage and audio from a wiretapped phone call which it claims proves a terrorist group caused the explosion at the al-Ahli Hospital.
US and UK intelligence appears to suggest Israel was not responsible for the explosion.
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However, satellite images from the site, appear to reveal minimal damage to the hospital itself - despite claims the blast left at least 500 dead.
Meanwhile, horror images revealed a bloodstained nursery that was devastated by Hamas terrorists in the horrific attack on Israel’s Be’eri Kibbutz.
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