We're with you: Sunak expresses solidarity for Israel

But he’s set to warn against escalation

- Nicholas Cecil

RISHI SUNAK held talks with Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu today with hopes rising that desperately needed aid will be allowed into Gaza ahead of a looming ground invasion.

Shortly after arriving in Tel Aviv, Mr Sunak stressed his “solidarity with Israeli people who have suffered an unspeakable, horrific act of terrorism” after more than 1,400 people were slaughtered by Hamas on October 7.

During a two-day trip, the Prime Minister was also set to meet other leaders in the Middle East. He was expected to highlight the need to “avoid further dangerous escalation”, saying that “too many lives have been lost”.

The death toll in Gaza, which Israeli is targeting with waves of air strikes, was reported to have already risen above 3,000. Mr Sunak’s visit comes after the US president was in Israel yesterday on a diplomatic mission to prevent fighting from spiralling into a larger crisis.

Joe Biden gave “steadfast” backing to Israel but also warned against being “consumed by” rage and making the same “mistakes” the US did after the September 11 attacks in 2001. The president’s trip appeared to herald a breakthrough, with Mr Netanyahu’s office announcing it had approved a request from Mr Biden to allow Egypt to deliver limited quantities of humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip, where water and food are becoming scarce.