Prime Minister Boris Johnson led condolences from the UK after the tragic stampede at Israel’s Mount Meron.

Mr Johnson said this morning: “Devastating scenes at the Lag B’Omer festival in Israel. My thoughts are with the Israeli people and those who have lost loved ones in this tragedy.”

The Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, tweeted, “Deeply upsetting scenes at Mount Meron in Israel. May God be with those who grieve, those wounded and all those traumatised by this disaster. Let us pray for our Jewish brothers and sisters at this time of great grief. May the memory of those lost be a blessing.”

 

James Cleverly, the government’s Minister for Middle East and North Africa, added his thoughts:

“Such a terrible incident at the Lag B’Omer festival at Mount Meron last night,” he said.

“My thoughts are with those who have lost loved ones, and all those affected by this disaster, the people of Israel and the wider Jewish community.”

Dominic Raab tweeted, “Deeply saddened by the incident at the Lag B’Omer festival in Israel last night. My condolences and prayers are with the people of Israel and the Jewish community.

Israel’s ministry of foreign affairs thanked countries around the world for offering their support, adding “the MFA’s social media accounts have received thousands of messages of condolence from around the world, including from many Arab countries.”

At least 45 people were crushed to death and more than 150 people injured in a stampede at a Jewish religious festival at Mount Meron, Israel.

It is believed to be the worst peacetime tragedy in modern Israeli history.

Orthodox worshippers had gathered in northern Galiliee for the Lag B’Omer holiday, an annual festival in honour of second-century sage Rabbi Shimon Bar Yohai.

 

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