British Prime Minister (PM), Rishi Sunak, has arrived in Israel amid the ongoing war between the latter and the Palestinian militant group, Hamas.
Bellnews understands that Sunak journeyed to Israel with the intention of meeting with his Israeli counterpart, Benjamin Netanyahu. It is anticipated that Sunak will request the expeditious delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza in light of the ongoingk conflict.
Sunak’s arrival in Israel is coming less than 24 hours after the President of the United States, Joe Biden, visited the country.
When he did, Biden pledged to provide $100 billion in support to victims of the ongoing war between Hamas and Israel. This visit by Sunak is part of a collective effort by world leaders to prevent the escalation of the conflict with Hamas into the broader region.
“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,” Sunak wrote on X on Thursday morning.
After meeting Netanyahu, Sunak is expected to visit other regional capitals and also offer his condolences for the civilians killed so far during the war.
“Every civilian death is a tragedy,” the prime minister had said ahead of the trip. “And too many lives have been lost following Hamas’s horrific act of terror,” he added.
There had been reports earlier this week that Sunak was planning his first trip to Israel, but he would not confirm his travel arrangements until Wednesday evening.
Meanwhile, 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 push for an agreement on humanitarian access to Gaza, and the release of British hostages held by Hamas.