London:
British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said on Saturday that the “terrible” war between Israel and Hamas “must end”, six months after the conflict began.
“We continue to support Israel's right to defeat the Hamas terrorist threat and protect Israel's security. But all of Britain is shocked by this bloodshed,” he said in a statement.
“This terrible conflict must end. The hostages must be freed. The aid we have worked so hard to deliver by land, air and sea must pour in,” he added.
The Gaza war, the bloodiest in history, began on October 7 with an unprecedented attack from Gaza by Hamas militants that resulted in the deaths of 1,170 people, mostly civilians, in southern Israel, Israeli statistics show. There is.
Palestinian militants have also taken about 250 Israelis and foreigners hostage, of whom about 130 remain in Gaza, including more than 30 who Israeli forces say have been killed.
“Today marks six months since the terrorist rampage of October 7, the most horrific attack in Israeli history and the worst loss of Jewish life since World War II.”
“Six months later, Israel's wounds have not healed. Families are still grieving and hostages are still being held by Hamas.”
Sunak said children in Gaza needed a “humanitarian pause leading to a long-term sustainable ceasefire”.
“That is the quickest way to rescue and rescue hostages and stop the fighting and loss of life.
“Everyone has the right to live in peace, dignity and security, for the benefit of both Israelis and Palestinians. That is what we will continue to strive to achieve,” he added.
The British government on Friday called for “maximum transparency” and a “fully independent investigation” into the killing of seven aid workers in the Gaza Strip.
Three of the seven World Central Kitchen staff killed in the Israeli airstrike on Monday night were British.
The deaths also increased pressure on the British government to suspend arms export licenses to Israel.
Since 2015, London has approved more than $487 million ($614 million) in arms sales to Israel under so-called single-issue licenses, according to arms control bodies.
Meanwhile, the British government said Royal Navy ships would be sent to get more aid to Gaza.
Alongside the deployment, Britain also announced a $9.7 million ($12.25 million) package for aid deliveries, logistics expertise and equipment support to the eastern Mediterranean humanitarian corridor between Cyprus and Gaza.
Foreign Secretary David Cameron said Britain and its allies were “considering all options” to “relieve the desperate plight of some of the world's most vulnerable people” in the region, including deliveries by sea and air. He said there was a need to do so.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)