British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said on Wednesday he supported a humanitarian pause in the conflict in Gaza between Israel and Hamas to allow the safe delivery of aid to civilians, but he rejected calls for a full ceasefire.
The Associated Press has the story:
British PM Rishi Sunak backs pause in Gaza strike to allow aids in
Newslooks- LONDON, (AP)
British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said on Wednesday he supported a humanitarian pause in the conflict in Gaza between Israel and Hamas to allow the safe delivery of aid to civilians, but he rejected calls for a full ceasefire.
Israel’s military intensified its bombing of southern Gaza overnight after one of the deadliest days for Palestinians since the conflict began.
Sunak told parliament that Israel has the right to respond militarily to Hamas’s attack earlier this month – the deadliest attack on Jews since the Holocaust.
The prime minister also said the government wanted Hamas to release Israeli hostages, help Britons leave Gaza, and ensure humanitarian aid could make it to those in need.
“We recognise for all of that to happen, there has to be a safer environment, which of course necessitates specific pauses – as distinct from a ceasefire,” Sunak said to lawmakers at a weekly parliamentary question and answer session.
Britain had discussed with other countries on Tuesday at the United Nations a possible humanitarian pause, he said.
Sunak was speaking as a British plane was en route to Egypt on Wednesday to deliver humanitarian supplies to people in Gaza.
The United States has been pushing for shorter breaks in the fighting while Russia has advocated for a complete ceasefire.
Later, Sunak’s spokesman said a full ceasefire would only benefit Hamas.
The spokesman also said Sunak disagreed with U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres over comments that attacks by Hamas earlier this month “did not happen in a vacuum”.
“We are clear there is and can be no justification for Hamas’ barbaric terrorist attack,” he said.
