NEW DELHI: Marking six months of
Israel-Hamas conflict
, British PM
Rishi Sunak
on Saturday said that the UK continues to “stand by Israel”, further calling for conflict to end and
hostages
be released.
“We continue to stand by Israel’s right to defeat the threat from Hamas terrorists and defend their security. But the whole of the UK is shocked by the
bloodshed
,” Sunak said in a statement.
“This terrible conflict must end. The hostages must be released. The aid –- which we have been straining every sinew to deliver by land, air and sea -– must be flooded in,” he added.
Terming it as the “most appalling attack in Israel’s history”, Sunak said, “Today marks six months since the terrorist outrage of 7th October –- the most appalling attack in Israel’s history, the worst loss of Jewish life since the Second World War.”
“Six months later, Israeli wounds are still unhealed. Families still mourn and hostages are still held by Hamas,” he added.
Emphasizing for an immediate “humanitarian pause” in Gaza, Sunak said that it is “the fastest way to get hostages out and aid in, and to stop the fighting and loss of life.”
“For the good of both Israelis and Palestinians — who all deserve to live in peace, dignity and security — that is what we will keep working to achieve,” he said.
The war began on October 7 with Hamas terrorists killing 1,170 persons in southern Israel, the majority of them were civilians, according to Israeli authorities.
The counteroffensive from Israel has led to the killings of nearly 33,000 Palestinians since the conflict began on October 7, with a majority being women and children, according to Gaza health ministry.
