Note to reader: We wanted to give you a trigger warning on what you may read below. We have chosen, as with every night of these briefings, to not share horrific images, however we want to alert you as sensitively as we can to the reports coming out of Israel.
“We want you to win”, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said in a press conference with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu today in Israel.
This morning Prime Minister Rishi Sunak landed in Israel and met with Israeli President Isaac Herzog, Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu, and Israeli victims of Hamas’ terror attack.
On X the Prime Minister announced that he is in Israel, “a nation in grief”. “I grieve with you and stand with you against the evil that is terrorism. Today, and always”, he said. He signed off the statement in Hebrew ‘solidarity’.
In a video message the Prime Minister said that he was “pleased to be in Israel at this important time. Above all, I am here to express my solidarity with the Israeli people. You have suffered an unspeakable, horrific act of terrorism. And I want you to know that the United Kingdom and I stand with you”.
In a joint statement with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Prime Minister Sunak said that he was “sorry to be here in such terrible circumstances”.
“In the last two weeks, this country has gone through something that no country, no people, should have to endure”, he said
“Least of all Israel, which has lived through some of the most awful scenes, the spectre of violence and terrorism every day of its existence”.
“I want to share the deep condolences of the British people, and stress that we absolutely support Israel’s right to defend itself in line with international law, to go after Hamas, to take back hostages, deter further incursions and to strengthen your security for the long-term”.
The Prime Minister noted that “the terrorists of Hamas…seek to put civilians in harm’s way” unlike Israel who “are taking ever precaution to avoid harming civilians”. “We…recognise that the Palestinian people are victims of Hamas too”.
The Prime Minister concluded by saying: “You describe this as Israel’s darkest hour, well then it’s for me to say that I am proud to stand here with you in Israel’s darkest hour as your friend, who will stand with you in solidarity, who will stand with your people, and we also want you to win.”
The Prime Minister in a recorded meeting with Israeli President Isaac Herzog expressed his “solidarity with your people and your country after you have suffered something unspeakable, a barbaric act of terrorism…we should call it what it is – an act of terrorism perpetrated by an evil terrorist organisation, Hamas”.
He assured the President that the UK “will stand with Israel. We will stand with you in solidarity, with your people, and your right to defend yourself, to bring security back to your country, to your people, to ensure the safe return of the hostages that have been taken”.
“You do not just have a right to do that, you have a duty to do that, to restore that security to your country”, he said.
The Prime Minister posted a picture, hugging a mother who lost their child in Hamas’ deadly attack. Captioning the image, Prime Minister Sunak said: “To have a child taken from you is a parent’s worst nightmare. This morning I heard from families going through this unbearable agony”. “Working with our partners, we’re determined to secure the release of the hostages taken by Hamas terrorists”, he added.
Foreign Secretary James Cleverly embarked on a visit to Egypt, Qatar and Turkey today. In an online statement he said that his “goals are clear: Secure the release of British hostages. Stop the violence spreading to the region. Ensure emergency aid can get into Gaza”.
In Business of the House this morning, Leader of the House of Commons, Penny Mordaunt MP warned colleagues of misinformation. She added her voice to those “who have expressed their horror, sadness and sympathy with all those caught up in the situation in Israel and Gaza. My thoughts are particularly with those who have lost loved ones in the most barbaric terrorist attack, and with those taken hostage and their families who await news of them”.
Referring to media coverage of explosion at Al-Ahli hospital, she underscored that “at times like these, we in this place may feel that we cannot directly help, but we all can. We can all make judgments based on facts, promote those facts and debunk deliberate disinformation campaigns, keep informed and wide-eyed about the realities of the situation, and reassure communities here in the UK”, she advised.
The Leader of the House also noted that “what Israel is trying to do is end Hamas, a terror organisation that is a block to peace”. “The IDF is a trained military force that is subject to the rules of armed conflict and international law. Its soldiers are trained in these ethical matters. Its targeting doctrine and analysis of it is in the public domain and subject to scrutiny. I do not think that Hamas produces joint service publications, but if it did, they would say the opposite. It is there to cause damage and suffering to Israeli civilians and it has no regard, either, to the value of Palestinian lives, whose suffering appears to be acceptable collateral damage to its cause”, she added.
CFI Parliamentary Vice-Chair Theresa Villiers MP asked for “a debate on media reporting of the conflict between Israel and Hamas so that we can hold to account those media outlets that chose to rush to blame Israel for the hospital tragedy without a sound evidential basis”. She underscored that “accurate reporting is crucial. Failing to deliver that makes the situation worse, could cost lives and could fuel hatred and antisemitism here in the UK”.
CFI Officer Bob Blackman MP noted that “it is understandable that, after suffering the worst terrorist atrocity in its history and the largest loss of Jewish life since the Holocaust, the state of Israel will now seek to eliminate the threat of Hamas and all the other terrorist organisations”. The MP asked for “the House to have a debate in Government time and on a Government motion, so that it can express its support for the state of Israel and we can come to a ready conclusion to send a strong signal”. He concluded that “there can be no equivalence between the Hamas terrorists, who kill, maim and torture civilians and try to eliminate as many Jews as they possibly can, and the Israel Defense Forces, which seeks to target terrorists and minimise civilian casualties”.
CFI Honorary President Lord Polak CBE welcomed the Prime Minister’s visit to Israel In the House of Lords today during the Gaza: Post-conflict reconstruction Debate. He underscored that “before we can talk about the construction of a new Gaza, there must be a destruction of all the terror infrastructure underneath Gaza, which is causing the problem”.
Middle East Minister Lord Ahmad agreed that “Hamas should be something that we talk about as the past—that it was defeated and the infrastructure was put to rest—because even now, in the most desperate situation in which Gazans find themselves, missiles continue to land in Israel”.
“It is an inescapable truth that Hamas as an organisation, through what it subscribes to and its actions in Israel—the killing, murder and maiming of so many, including innocent women and children—does not represent the interests of any people who are like-minded about our common humanity”, he said.
Lord Ahmad further declared that “the hostages are a priority. Irrespective of whatever faith we follow, or no faith, I am sure that all our prayers and thoughts are with them. We want their safe return and peace and calm restored”. “A stable Gaza is in the interests of the whole region, but it is clear that the leadership of Hamas—if you can so call this abhorrent terrorist group, which is proscribed in the United Kingdom—is not the future for Gaza, the Palestinians or the people of the region”, he added.
Appearing on Sky News this morning, Security Minister, Rt Hon Tom Tungendhat MP said that “it is quite clear that Hamas is not a partner for peace”. “Hamas keeps repeating vile antisemitic tropes including various blood libels, and calls for the destruction of the Jewish people not just the Jewish state”. He added that he “would love to see a world without Hamas in it”.
Victims of Hamas’ deadly massacre continue to be identified including 12-year-old Noya Dan and her grandmother Carmela. Noya, who was autistic, was confirmed dead by her family as well as the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The number of Israeli hostages taken by Hamas into Gaza has risen to 203 confirmed abductees. The IDF are still notifying families as they scan bordering towns.
Israel is still fearful and has not ruled out the possibility that there are still Hamas terrorists acting and hiding within Israel. IDF spokesman Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari said that the IDF “haven’t finished scanning [the Gaza border area] yet”. Last night the IDF arrested an “exhausted terrorist” trying to get back into Gaza.
Rockets continue to be fired in large barrages towards central Israel from the Gaza Strip. Over 30 rockets were fired from Lebanon towards Israel today which Hamas took credit for. One rocket directly hit a building in Kiryat Shmona injuring three civilians including a five-year-old girl and 75-year-old man. Hezbollah has also fired rockets at Israel today in multiple rounds including two anti-tank missiles this morning.
The Israeli Air Force (IAF) continues to strike Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) targets in Gaza. According to Palestinian media, an IAF airstrike killed Jehad Mheisen, head of the Hamas National Security Forces, today.
A report aired by the French news agency AFP quoted a European Union official stating that the people killed in the rocket explosion in the carpark of Al-Ahli Hospital were grossly exaggerated by Hamas. It is the EU’s understanding that between 12 and 50 people lost their lives by the hands of PIJ although no number has been verified.
Senior Hamas official, Ali Baraka, told Russia Today TV that Hamas secretly planned this massacre for two years. “In the past couple of years, Hamas has adopted a ‘rational’ approach. It did not go into any war, and did not join the Islamic Jihad in its recent battle”, he said. This was in order to make Israel “think that Hamas was busy with governing Gaza, and that it wanted to focus on the 2.5 million Palestinians [in Gaza], and has abandoned the resistance altogether”.
He revealed that “”Our allies are those that support us with weapons and money. First and foremost it is Iran that is giving us money and weapons. There is also Hezbollah, and the Arab and Islamic people who are standing by us. There are countries that support us politically. Even Russia sympathises with us…Russia is happy that America is getting embroiled in Palestine. It alleviates the pressure on the Russians in Ukraine”.
The IDF has seized Iranian-made AZ111 mortar round fuses and M112 demolition charges from Hamas terrorists in Israel.
It has been reported by Palestinian Media Watch that the Palestinian Authority will pay close to $3 million to families of the 1,500 dead Hamas terrorists killed by the IDF after Hamas’ deadly attack on Saturday 7th October. Under Palestinian Authority law, as part of their ‘pay to slay’ campaign, every terrorist killed due to attacking Israel is defined as a martyr, whose family is entitled to a monthly allowance. Captured Hamas terrorists are also entitled to a salary whilst in prison.
Another investigation, carried out by the Jewish Chronicle has revealed that leaders of several groups behind a pro-Palestinian march set to take place this Saturday in central London, has links to Hamas.
Friends of al-Aqsa leader Ismael Patel has reportedly visited Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Gaza. He has previously said that “Hamas is no terrorist organisation. The reason they hate Hamas is because they refuse to be subjugated, to be occupied by the Israeli state, and we salute Hamas for standing up to Israel.” He has also declared that “we are all Hamas”.
Last weekend, John Nicholson, a leading figure in Manchester PSC, told a PSC rally in Oldham: “We support the Palestinian resistance… Let Suella Braverman hear this clearly: Oldham supports the Palestinian resistance.” Two former leaders of the PSC have reportedly also met with Ismail Haniyeh in Gaza.
Zaher Birawi, who leads the Palestinian Forum for Britain has been photographed with both Haniyeh and former Hamas military chief Mahmoud Zahar.
The Muslim Association of Britain is also staging the march. Anas Altikriti, director of the limited company that runs The Muslim Association of Britain, its former president, and also founder of the Cordoba Foundation. Former Prime Minister David Cameron described it as a front for the Muslim Brotherhood, the Islamist group of which Hamas is an offshoot. Altikriti has previously posted a picture of his meeting with Haniyeh in June 2012.
CFI’s Parliamentary Chairman (Lords) Lord Pickles has said that “we don’t want a march glorifying racial hatred on our streets. The march should be cancelled. ‘From the river to the sea’ is an ethnic-cleansing chant that says Jews will be removed from Israel by force and bloodshed.”
During this difficult time please consider donating to Magen David Adom’s urgent appeal https://mdauk.org/
Please also email your MP to share your support with Israel. You can do this via We Believe in Israel: https://tinyurl.com/mr2rcbej
