Rishi Sunak vows to stand with Israel in ‘darkest hour’
British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has pledged to stand with Israel in its “darkest hour,” adding he wanted the country to “win” its war with Hamas.
Speaking after a meeting with Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu, the PM said the Palestinian people were “victims of Hamas too”. He repeated the UK supported Israel’s right to self-defence, in line with international law. Mr Netanyahu said Israel needed “continual support” for a “long war”.
The meeting between the two leaders is part of a two-day visit by Mr Sunak to the wider region. No 10 has confirmed he will visit Saudi Arabia later on Thursday, among trips to regional capitals.
Calling the Palestinian militant group the “new Nazis,” the Israeli PM called the conflict with Hamas a “battle of the entire civilised world”.
Israeli warplanes and artillery have been bombarding Gaza since more than 1,400 people were killed in the unprecedented Hamas attack on Israel on 7 October. Gaza remains under siege, with Israel blocking cross-border supplies of water, electricity, and fuel.
Borrowing a phrase from Britain’s leader during World War Two, Sir Winston Churchill, Mr Netanyahu said the Hamas attack was “our darkest hour” and “the world’s darkest hour”. Mr Sunak said: “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.”
(BBC)
