By Nadine Osman
London, (The Muslim News): Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman stressed to British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak that the kingdom considered targeting civilians in Gaza “a heinous crime and a brutal attack,” the Saudi state news agency SPA reported, following a meeting in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on Thursday.
In contrast, a few hours prior, Sunak, had assured Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel that he was confident his country was “taking every precaution to avoid harming civilians.”
A spokesman for Sunak, who is in a two-day trip to the Middle East, said the Crown Prine had “agreed that the loss of innocent lives in Israel and Gaza over the last two weeks has been horrific. They underscored the need to avoid any further escalation in the region and agreed to coordinate action on this front.”
The Prime Minister and Crown Prince agreed on the pressing need for humanitarian access into Gaza to provide vital water, food, and medicine. Sunak also outlined the steps the UK has taken to address the increasingly urgent humanitarian situation, including announcing an additional £10 million in aid.
The Prime Minister encouraged the Crown Prince to use Saudi’s leadership in the region to support stability, both now and in the long-term.
More broadly, the Prime Minister and Crown Prince looked forward to working together to advance areas of shared interest for the UK and Saudi Arabia, including on upholding regional security.
Earlier yesterday, Sunak was in Israel, and met with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Isaac Herzog.
After their meeting, the pair held a brief news conference, in which Netanyahu thanked Sunak for his support.
Netanyahu said the current situation will be “a long war”, and Israel will “need” the UK’s “continual support”.
He added that he knew Israel was “taking every precaution to avoid harming civilians – in contrast to the terrorists of Hamas”.
Sunak said he was “proud” to stand with Israel in its “darkest hour”.
Sunak said he welcomed the opening of a humanitarian corridor into Gaza.
The conflict began on October 7 when Hamas initiated Operation Al-Aqsa Flood, a multi-pronged surprise attack that included a barrage of rocket launches and infiltrations into Israel by land, sea, and air. It said the incursion was in retaliation for the storming of the Al-Aqsa Mosque and growing violence by Israeli settlers.
The Israeli military then launched Operation Swords of Iron against Hamas targets in the Gaza Strip.
Sunak said the UK supported Israel’s right to defend itself while also calling for humanitarian access to Gaza after the attack by Hamas.However, US vetoed UN Sec Council resolution that would have called for “humanitarian pauses” to deliver aid to millions in Gaza. UK did not support the Resolution instead abstained.
UN chief Antonio Guterres has called for an “immediate humanitarian ceasefire” to ease the “epic human suffering.”
3,785 Palestinians have been killed, including 1,524 children,12,400 injured in Israeli targeted strikes in Gaza Strip according to Health Ministry. According to the Israeli army, 1,400 Israelis have been killed inluding 302 soldiers by military wing of Hamas, Izz al-Din al-Qassam.
[Photo: Relatives of Al Kurd family mourn funeral ceremony at Al-Aqsa Hospital in Deir Al-Balah, Gaza on 20 10 23. After strikes killed more than 10 members of Al Kurd family in Gaza. Photojournalist Ashraf Amra /AA]
