“We want you to win”: Rishi Sunak on supporting Israel’s ‘right-to-defend’ itself

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak emphasised on UK’s solidarity with Israel and supported the war-torn country’s right to defend itself on Thursday. In his two-day visit to Israel he also added that despite his support for Israel to defend itself, it is also important to allow humanitarian access to Gaza after the attack by Hamas.

While addressing a press conference with his Israeli counterpart, PM Benjamin Netanyahu said “I know you are taking every precaution to not harm civilians, unlike the Hamas. Thank you for the evacuation of British citizens.”

While promising the absolute support of the Downing Street to Israel, Sunak said “We will stand with you in solidarity, we will stand with your people. And we also want you to win ” in the televised joint conference of the two leaders.

Rishi Sunak meets Israeli President Isaac Herzog

Sunak is on a two-day visit Middle East and landed in Tel Aviv on Thursday after US President Joe Biden Israel yesterday. Just after landing, he went and had a meeting with Israeli President Isaac Herzog.

In this meeting, the two leaders underlined the need to avoid escalating the war in the region, which has seen angry protests and dissatisfaction from some Middle Eastern countries after a hospital in Gaza was attacked by air strikes killing 500 people on Wednesday.

“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,” Sunak said in a televised part of the meeting with Herzog.

“Palestinians are victims of what Hamas has done. It’s important that we continue to provide humanitarian access.”

Herzog expressed his gratitude to the British leader for his support and said that Sunak’s presence brings hope to “uproot military capabilities of this enemy” and to “live in peace with our Palestinian neighbours.”

Following his visit to Israel, PM Rishi Sunak will set off for Saudi Arabia this afternoon.