Sunak addresses Commons over Middle East crisis

“This attack is a fundamental challenge to any idea of co-existence,” declared Rishi Sunak this afternoon as he reflected on the terror unleashed by Hamas in Israel last week, which has claimed over 1400 lives, and Israel’s resulting bombardment of Gaza, which has now killed least 2750 Palestinians.

Speaking in the House of Commons this afternoon, Sunak had a message for Britain’s Jewish community: “We stand with you now and always.”

“I am sickened that anti-Semitic incidents have increased since the attack,” said Sunak, pledging £3 million to improve security at Jewish community buildings such as synagogues.

The PM added that this is also a moment of anguish for all the Muslims in the UK who are appalled by the actions of Hamas but fearful of Israel’s response, amid a spiralling humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

“We stand with British Muslim communities too,” said Sunak. 

The PM announced a further £10 million of humanitarian aid for Palestinians in Gaza and insisted that, “as a friend, we will continue to call on Israel to take every possible precaution to avoid harming civilians.”

The Commons session was also a moment to address fears about British nationals directly caught up in the crisis. Sunak confirmed that at least six British people have been killed while a further ten are missing – some of whom may be dead, some of whom could be part of the estimated 199 hostages being held by Hamas inside Gaza. There were family members of the missing sitting in the gallery this afternoon.

For foreign and dual nationals inside Gaza – which includes the parents-in-law of Scotland’s first minister – their best bet for escape is the Rafah gateway on the Egyptian border, the only crossing out of the enclave not controlled by Israel. Thousands have now gathered close to it with their passports, desperately hoping to be let through. 

Yesterday, following talks between Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Sisi and US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken, Washington said that the crossing would be temporarily re-opened – it had been hoped as early as this afternoon – to let them through. 

But, so far, these reports have proven to be premature. The crossing remains closed and Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is denying reports of a ceasefire to allow foreigners out of south Gaza and humanitarian aid in. It’s thought that Israel is worried about the prospect of weapons crossing the border into Gaza. 

For Palestinians without a dual nationality, there is little hope of making it through the Rafah crossing anytime soon. (Cairo – which is contending with an influx of 280,000 refugees from neighbouring Sudan – has been categorical so far in its refusal to accept Palestinian refugees.) Their most immediate concern, therefore, will be what is held up on the Egyptian side of the border: the long line of lorries carrying hundreds of tonnes of desperately needed aid supplies, attempting to make it into the strip. 

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