On Monday, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced aid for the Palestinian people, revealing that the government would allocate an extra £20 million in humanitarian assistance for Gaza.
"We need a constant stream of aid pouring in, bringing the water, food, medicine and fuel that is so desperately needed," Sunak told lawmakers in an update on the Israel-Palestine conflict.
He has called on Saudi Arabia to assist in promoting stability in the Middle East, following his support for Israel during its conflict with Hamas while visiting the country.
The UK Prime Minister has agreed to collaborate with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to prevent further escalation and provide aid to Gaza. Mr. Sunak's visit to Riyadh was part of a two-day trip to various capitals in the region. Earlier in the visit, he pledged solidarity with Israel during a meeting with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
This diplomatic activity coincides with Israel's preparations for a potential ground invasion of Gaza in response to the deadly Hamas attack on October 7. During a joint press conference with Mr. Netanyahu, Mr. Sunak expressed his pride in supporting Israel in what he described as its "lengthy struggle" against Hamas, which he characterised as "pure evil."
Sunak also met with the Palestinian Authority president in Egypt as part of his Middle East tour. During their meeting, the British prime Minister and Mahmoud Abbas both denounced Hamas's attacks on Israel while Sunak expressed his heartfelt condolences for the civilian casualties in Gaza.
In addition to his meeting with President Abbas, he also had discussions with Egyptian President Abdul Fattah al-Sisi. They agreed on the importance of preventing further escalation of conflicts in the region.
The Prime Minister departed from London on Wednesday evening and had planned discussions on Thursday with the Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, and the country's President, Isaac Herzog.
Meanwhile, back in London, Hizb ut-Tahrir, an Islamist group that organized a pro-Palestinian rally in London, has faced criticism for its leaders' statements supporting Hamas, delivering homophobic speeches, and advocating for radical action against the Western world order. There is pressure on the government to proscribe Hizb ut-Tahrir, a movement that is banned in parts of Europe and much of the Middle East, following a march in the capital where supporters were encouraged to chant "Jihad."
Rishi Sunak has characterized "jihad" chants as a threat to British democracy, amidst coordinated efforts among ministers, police, and prosecutors to develop immediate strategies for the arrest of protesters who employ extremist language during rallies.
Additionally, at least ten British nationals have been killed in the conflict between Israel and Hamas, with a further six reported missing, as stated by junior British finance minister Victoria Atkins in an interview with Times Radio on Tuesday. Families of individuals killed or taken hostage in Hamas's October 7 attack on Israel, who are based in the UK, have also expressed their grief and distress.
