Rishi Sunak could visit Israel amid Hamas conflict

The Prime Minister could go to the country as soon as Thursday (October 19), Sky News reports.

The trip could be part of a broader visit to the region, which may include stops in Jordan and Egypt.

It follows visits from Germany’s chancellor Olaf Scholz today (October 17) and US president Joe Biden is set to go on Wednesday (October 18).

Sky News reports the visit will come “amid growing concern about the humanitarian crisis in Gaza”.

There have been calls to open aid corridors as the Israeli military prepares for the next phase of its campaign against Hamas following last Saturday’s attack (October 7).

Israel and Hamas conflict sees thousands killed

At least 1,400 people were killed, many of them civilians, and thousands more injured when Hamas launched a surprise assault on Israel on October 7.

Since then at least 2,778 Palestinians have died as Israel launched air strikes on Gaza and cut off fuel, water, food and medical supplies from entering the territory.

Yesterday (October 16) Mr Sunak said that six British citizens had been killed in the attacks, and a further 10 were missing.

He also said that the UK is working with Israel to establish the facts and support the families through their “unimaginable pain”.

Rishi Sunak has promised aid to the civilians in the Occupied Palestinian Territories (Image: Darren Staples/PA Wire)

Addressing the British Jewish community, Mr Sunak said: “We stand with you now and always. This atrocity was an existential strike at the very idea of Israel as a safe homeland for the Jewish people.”

Alongside this, he stated “We stand with British Muslim communities too” as he noted the “moment of great anguish” for those appalled by Hamas’s actions while being fearful of the response.

Mr Sunak announced that a further £10 million in humanitarian aid would be provided to civilians in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, up from the £27 million existing funding this year.