Rishi Sunak in Israel: ‘I stand with you in your darkest hour’

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak visited Israel this week where he reinforced Britain’s stand with Israel following the 7^th October Hamas attacks and met with some of the Israeli families who lost loved ones.

“To have a child taken from you is a parent’s worst nightmare. This morning I heard from families going through this unbearable agony,” Sunak said after meeting families. “Working with our partners, we’re determined to secure the release of the hostages taken by Hamas terrorists.”

To have a child taken from you is a parent’s worst nightmare.

This morning I heard from families going through this unbearable agony.

Working with our partners, we’re determined to secure the release of the hostages taken by Hamas terrorists. pic.twitter.com/F7AV021o9x

— Rishi Sunak (@RishiSunak) October 19, 2023

Ahead of the meeting he told Israeli media, “Above all, I’m here to express my solidarity with the Israeli people. You have suffered an unspeakable, horrific act of terrorism and I want you to know that the United Kingdom and I stand with you.”

Prime Minister @netanyahu, I stand with you in Israel’s darkest hour.

I welcome your commitment to ensure routes into Gaza are opened for humanitarian aid.

I support your work to secure the release of hostages, to strengthen your security and to end the threat from Hamas. pic.twitter.com/ZrLJALTzBN

— Rishi Sunak (@RishiSunak) October 19, 2023

Speaking at a joint press conference with Mr Netanyahu, Mr Sunak said, “I want to share the deep condolences of the British people, and stress that we absolutely support Israel’s right to defend itself in line with international law, to go after Hamas, to take back hostages, deter further incursions and to strengthen your security for the long-term.”

“Now I know that you are taking every precaution to avoid harming civilians, in direct contrast to the terrorists of Hamas, which seek to put civilians in harm’s way.”

Sunak closed his address, “You describe this as Israel’s darkest hour, well then it’s for me to say that I am proud to stand here with you in Israel’s darkest hour as your friend, who will stand with you in solidarity, who will stand with your people, and we also want you to win.”

The UK Prime Minister also met with Israel’s President, Isaac Herzog, where the Israeli leader conveyed his gratitude for Britain’s support, but raised his concern about the BBC’s coverage.

”We are dealing with one of the worst terrorist organisations in the world.

“And I know that in modern democracies, like ours and yours, you can’t interfere per se, but since the BBC has a certain linkage and as is known as British all over the world, there has to be an outcry for it to be corrected, and that Hamas will be defined as a terrorist organization there as well. What else do they need to see to understand that this is an atrocious terror organisation?”

Sunak responded, “You have suffered something unspeakable, a barbaric act of terrorism, as you said, we should call it what it is: an act of terrorism perpetrated by an evil terrorist organisation, Hamas. That’s what I believe.

“And that’s what we will continue to say. And in that vein, we will stand with Israel, 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. You have not just a right to do that, I think you have a duty to do that, to restore that security to your country.”

I’ve just met President @Isaac_Herzog and conveyed my gratitude for the support provided to British nationals caught up in the terror attacks.

Together we agreed on the importance of getting urgent humanitarian support to ordinary Palestinians in Gaza who are also suffering. pic.twitter.com/SouO8wRj4o

— Rishi Sunak (@RishiSunak) October 19, 2023

Herzog said to Sunak he was grateful he had “come to visit Israel in our darkest hour, but we will overcome and prevail and it will be our finest hour.”

The Israeli president noted:” Every hour another story, another story and another story of shocking stories, shocking – people being burned and tied up in barbed wire, you can only think about a family just before they are totally murdered, and heads cut off, all the things that you’ve been hearing.”

Also in the meeting, the pair discussed the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. The UK PM said, “I’m glad that you and I have had a chance to discuss the need for humanitarian access. Palestinians are victims of what Hamas has done.

“And it’s important that we continue to provide humanitarian access, I welcomed the announcement yesterday – the UK has announced further aid that we’re prepared to bring into the region. And we’re keen to see that that gets to those who need it, when people have been asked to leave to protect civilian life, which is the right thing to do – where we can support them, we want to do that. And I very much welcome the progress that we’ve made on that.”