{"id":135093,"date":"2023-10-18T22:00:37","date_gmt":"2023-10-18T22:00:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/allmybiznews.com\/?p=135093"},"modified":"2023-10-18T22:00:37","modified_gmt":"2023-10-18T22:00:37","slug":"sunak-calls-for-the-world-to-come-together-to-stop-middle-east-escalation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/allmybiznews.com\/politics\/sunak-calls-for-the-world-to-come-together-to-stop-middle-east-escalation\/","title":{"rendered":"Sunak calls for the world to \u2018come together\u2019 to stop Middle East escalation"},"content":{"rendered":"
<\/p>\n
The Prime Minister\u2019s appeal comes as he arrives in Israel amid growing fears the crisis could spiral.<\/p>\n
His two-day visit \u2013 part of a wider diplomatic push in the region \u2013 follows last week\u2019s deadly attacks by Hamas in which 1,400 Israelis were killed.<\/p>\n
At least seven British nationals, including 13-year-old Yahel Sharabi, were also killed in the barbaric raids on October 7.<\/p>\n
Another nine are missing, some are feared dead.<\/p>\n
Don’t miss… <\/strong> Israel ‘proves’ it was not to blame for explosion in Gaza hospital<\/strong><\/p>\n More than 3,000 people have been killed in retaliatory Israeli strikes on Gaza, according to Palestinian health officials.<\/p>\n Mr Sunak\u2019s visit comes two days after the deadly atrocity on Al Ahli Hospital which killed at least 500 people.<\/p>\n He will meet Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Herzog before travelling to a number of other regional capitals.<\/p>\n Downing Street said the PM will share his condolences for the \u201cterrible loss of life\u201d in Israel and Gaza in the last two weeks \u201cas a result of Hamas\u2019 brutal terrorist attacks\u201d.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Mr Sunak will tell his fellow leaders that the international community \u201cmust not let Hamas\u2019 barbaric terrorism and disregard for human life become a catalyst for further escalation of conflict in the region.\u201d<\/p>\n The visit follows Israel\u2019s announcement that the route into Gaza will be opened up to allow humanitarian aid to enter.<\/p>\n The Prime Minister will press for that to happen as soon as possible to allow the UK to deliver extra humanitarian aid and to enable British nationals trapped in Gaza to leave.<\/p>\n There are an estimated 50,000 to 60,000 British or dual nationals in Israel and Gaza, according to the UK government.<\/p>\n Foreign Secretary will visit Egypt, Turkey and Qatar in the coming days to underscore the UK\u2019s messages.<\/p>\n The Prime Minister said last night: \u201cEvery civilian death is a tragedy. And too many lives have been lost following Hamas\u2019 horrific act of terror.<\/p>\n \u201cThe 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.\u201d<\/p>\n Mr Sunak\u2019s trip follows visits from Germany’s Chancellor Olaf Scholz and US President Joe Biden.<\/p>\n The PM has called for a \u201ccalm and cool\u201d response to the blast at al Ahli hospital.<\/p>\n We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you’ve consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. More info<\/p>\n He urged MPs not to \u201crush to judgment\u201d as Israel and Hamas issued rival claims about the atrocity at al Ahli.<\/p>\n Visiting Tel Aviv, US President Joe Biden sided with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu by telling him it \u201cappears as though it was done by the other team, not you\u201d.<\/p>\n But Mr Sunak \u2013 who held talks with the National Security Adviser and the chairman of the Joint Intelligence Committee on Wednesday morning \u2013 said he would not \u201crush to judgment before we have all the facts on this awful situation\u201d.<\/p>\n At Prime Minister\u2019s Questions in the Commons, he said: \u201cOur intelligence services have been rapidly analysing the evidence to independently establish the facts. We are not in a position at this point to say more than that.\u201d<\/p>\n During a visit to Essex on Wednesday afternoon, the Prime Minister said the \u201cvery heightened, sensitive situation\u201d demanded \u201ccalm heads\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201cThis is obviously a complicated situation on the ground but it is right that we approach it with a calm and cool manner, don\u2019t rush to premature judgments, take the time to understand what\u2019s happened, that\u2019s what we\u2019re doing. \u201c<\/p>\n Mr Sunak also declined to back calls from more than 40 MPs for a ceasefire so that the release of hostages could be secured, international law could be upheld and medical supplies, food, fuel, electricity and water could be given to the Palestinian people.<\/p>\n Instead, he said that Israel had a \u201cright to defend itself, to protect its people and to act against terrorism and ensure that the awful attack we\u2019ve seen from Hamas cannot happen again\u201d.<\/p>\n The PM said the UK was continuing to press to get humanitarian aid into Gaza and was \u201cworking around the clock\u201d to free British hostages taken by Hamas.<\/p>\n Following PMQs he met the family of one of those captured.<\/p>\n