Death toll in Hamas’ attack reaches over 900
The Houses of Parliament and the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) lit up in blue in support of Israel this evening.
The Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak, also gave an address at Finchley United Synagogue in a vigil for Israeli victims. He was joined by the Israeli Ambassador to the UK, Tzipi Hotovely, and the Chief Rabbi of Britain and the Commonwealth, Sir Ephraim Mirvis.
In his remarks, the Prime Minister said: “I wanted to come here tonight to stand with you, to stand with you in this hour of grief, as we mourn the victims of an utterly abhorrent act of terror, to stand with you in this hour of prayer, as we think of those held hostage, and your friends and loved ones taking refuge in bomb shelters or risking their lives on the frontline, and perhaps, above all, wanted to come here tonight to stand with you in solidarity in Israel’s hour of need. As the Prime Minister of this country, I’m unequivocal.”
“The people who support Hamas are fully responsible for this appalling attack. They are not militants they are not freedom fighters. They are terrorists”, the Prime Minister added.
“Teenagers at a festival of peace gunned down in cold blood. Innocent men, women and children abducted, raped, slaughtered. Even a Holocaust survivor taken away as a captive. And much of the sickening evidence posted online. There are not two sides to these events. There is no question of balance. I stand with Israel”.
“The United Kingdom stands with Israel against this terrorism today, tomorrow, and always. And let me also say this to you, as the Jewish community here in Britain. I know that at moments like this, when the Jewish people are under attack in their homeland Jewish people everywhere can feel less safe. We’ve already seen vile words on our streets, and attempts to stir up community tensions. I say; not here, not in Britain, not in our country, not in this century. My first duty is to protect you. We will not tolerate this hate; we will not tolerate this antisemitism. And I promise you, I will stop at nothing to keep you safe”.
The UK Foreign Secretary James Cleverly visited the Israeli Embassy this morning where he expressed solidarity with the people of Israel and lit a candle in memory of its victims. In an online statement, the Foreign Secretary wrote: “We will not stay silent as innocent Israelis are murdered by Hamas. Terrorism will not prevail. Earlier today I visited the Israeli Embassy in London to express this Government’s support for Israel”.
The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, posted a video online to coincide with the Foreign Secretary’s visit. In the clip, Cleverly states that “the UK’s position… is unambiguous. This is terrorism perpetuated by a terrorist organisation. These people have been murdered. We should be clear that there can never be justification for the brutal targeting of civilians in this way”.
A vigil, organised by the Board of Deputies of British Jews and the Jewish Leadership Council was held outside Downing Street today.
Security Minister Tom Tugendhat, Immigration Minister Robert Jenrick, and the Rt Hon Sir Iain Duncan Smith, all addressed the crowd.
Rt Hon Tom Tugendhat said: “I am here because I spoke to the Prime Minister today, and after his call with the Prime Minister of Israel, his commitment has only doubled”.
“I feel the anguish, the pain, the worry and the sorrow that you feel too this evening… I am here to say that we the British Government share your pain. Tonight we mourn with those who mourn and we grieve with those who grieve”, he added.
Rt Hon Robert Jenrick said: “We the British Government share your pain. We mourn for those who mourn. We pray for those unaccounted for and those brave men and women entering harms way as we speak with the IDF seeking to save others and restore Israel’s security”.
“These are not militants or fighters as some in media say. They were terrorists”, he added.
“As we begin to confront the enormity of the death and destruction and cold blooded murder of the scale not seen since the Holocaust I say on behalf of the Government do not waver. Even on Israel’s darkest days there is hope. Stories of great bravery”.
“We stand shoulder to shoulder with the Jewish community here in the UK. We stand with Israel. Israel will prevail. And the UK will do everything in its power to ensure this”.
Rt Hon Sir Iain Duncan Smith said: “Of course we stand with Israel because a freedom loving country must have the support of the freedom loving world against terrorists”.
This evening Quint leaders – made up of the UK, U.S., France and Germany released a statement to “express our steadfast and united support to the State of Israel, and our unequivocal condemnation of Hamas and its appalling acts of terrorism”.
“We make clear that the terrorist actions of Hamas have no justification, no legitimacy, and must be universally condemned. There is never any justification for terrorism. In recent days, the world has watched in horror as Hamas terrorists massacred families in their homes, slaughtered over 200 young people enjoying a music festival, and kidnapped elderly women, children, and entire families, who are now being held as hostages”.
“Our countries will support Israel in its efforts to defend itself and its people against such atrocities. We further emphasise that this is not a moment for any party hostile to Israel to exploit these attacks to seek advantage”.
“All of us recognise the legitimate aspirations of the Palestinian people, and support equal measures of justice and freedom for Israelis and Palestinians alike. But make no mistake: Hamas does not represent those aspirations, and it offers nothing for the Palestinian people other than more terror and bloodshed”.
Today it was confirmed that over 900 people have been murdered, and 2700 injured by Hamas since Saturday.
Three Britons have been confirmed dead in Hamas’ massacre. Photographer Danny Darlington, Bernard Cowan who lived in Glasgow before moving to Israel, and Nathanel Young, who served in the Israel Defense Force (IDF). Nathanel was buried today. During his funeral, well-wishers were forced to take cover as rockets were launched towards Jerusalem.
4,500 rockets have been launched from the Gaza, the highest amount to date. Rockets reached as far as Jerusalem with direct impact, including one which hit a Mosque in Abu Gosh and another Beitar Illit. There was also rocket impact to Palestinian areas in Bethlehem.
It has been reported that there are at least 10 Britons missing.
Over 100 bodies were found in Kibbutz Be’eri of men, women, and children.
The IDF has so far evacuated 15 out of 24 communities by the border fence in the South, towards central Israel.
The IDF has also regained control of all towns in Israel after gun-battles with Hamas terrorists, and continue to strike Hamas targets in Gaza.
In a press conference today, IDF spokesman Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari said the rate of Israeli Air Force attacks on the Gaza Strip is five times that of against Hezbollah in the 2006 Second Lebanon War.
Discussing hostages taken from Israel by Hamas, whose numbers are yet to be confirmed, Hagari said “as of now, we have notified 30 families. When we complete notifying the families, the number of hostages in Gaza will be made available to the public”.
In a televised address, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, said: “This is an existential fight, we are in a war to guarantee our existence and we will win. We are fighting against an abominable enemy, truly animals. They forced children who were shot to watch their families be murdered, then shot and murdered them too”.
“Slaughtering families in their homes, massacring hundreds of young people at an outdoor festival, kidnapping scores of women, children and elderly, even Holocaust survivors. Hamas terrorists bound, burned and executed children. They are savages. Hamas is ISIS.”
President Isaac Herzog also gave a televised statement today. He said: “I speak to you now from our capital city Jerusalem, under the dark shadow of war, as my nation continues to endure a savage attack from a cruel and inhumane enemy. To my mind not since the Holocaust have so many Jews been killed on one day. And not since the Holocaust have we witnessed scenes of Jewish women and children, grandparents, even Holocaust survivors being herded into trucks and taken into captivity”.
“Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas told Arab leaders the “Israeli aggression must be stopped. The blood of our women and children slaughtered cries out otherwise!”
According to the Hamas-run health ministry, over 500 people have died in the Gaza Strip.
Hezbollah, based in Lebanon, launched rockets towards northern Israel today whilst several terrorists from Iranian-backed terrorist groups Hezbollah and Palestinian Islamic Jihad, tried to infiltrate. Two terrorists were killed by the IDF, whilst others returned back to Lebanon. Six IDF soldiers were injured during the clashes, one in serious condition.
