LONDON DAILY ARCHIVE
Six Months Later: Rishi Sunak Urges End to Israel-Gaza Conflict, Calls for Humanitarian Pause and Release of Hostages
Rishi Sunak, the British Prime Minister, called for an end to the six-month-long conflict between Israel and Hamas, expressing shock over the bloodshed.
07 April 2024 · 19:05 UTC
The statement also emphasized the need for the release of hostages and the delivery of aid to the affected population.
The text describes the start of the deadliest war in Gaza's history, which began on October 7, 2021.
Hamas militants launched an attack from Gaza, resulting in the deaths of over 1,170 people in southern Israel, mostly civilians.
Palestinian militants took around 250 Israeli and foreign hostages, about 130 of whom are still being held in Gaza, including over 30 reportedly dead.
Israeli Prime Minister Rishi Sunak marked six months since the attack, expressing that Israeli wounds are still unhealed and families are still mourning.
He called for an immediate humanitarian pause leading to a long-term sustainable ceasefire for the children of Gaza.
The text discusses the call for an independent review into the killing of seven aid workers, three of whom were British, in an Israeli airstrike in the Gaza Strip.
The British government is pushing for transparency and has faced pressure to suspend arms exports to Israel due to the incident.
The US Secretary of State emphasized the importance of getting hostages out and ending the fighting for the benefit of Israelis and Palestinians.
Since 2015, the UK has approved over £487 million ($614 million) in weapons sales to Israel.
The British government is sending a Royal Navy ship and providing a £9.7 million ($12.25 million) aid package to help deliver humanitarian supplies to Gaza.
Foreign Secretary David Cameron urged exploration of all options, including sea and air deliveries, to alleviate the suffering of some of the world's most vulnerable people in the territory.