Sunak today travels to Israel as fear of greater escalation increases

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak will arrive in Israel on Thursday for meetings with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Isaac Herzeg, before heading to other regional capitals, the British leader's office announced.

Mr. Sunak will express the condolences of the British people for the loss of lives in Israel and Gaza as a result of the October 7th attack on Israel by the Hamas militants who control Gaza. The prime minister's office said Mr. Sunak would warn against further escalation of the conflict in the region.

Any civilian population death is a tragedy. Many lives were lost after Hamas' terrible act of terror”, Mr. Sunak said through a statement ahead of his visit.

He said the deadly explosion at a hospital in Gaza on Tuesday, which killed hundreds of Palestinians, should be a crucial moment for the leaders of the region and around the world to unite to avoid further and dangerous escalation of the” conflict, pledging that Britain would be “in front of this “effort.

Mr. Sunak will also seek the opening of a way to allow humanitarian aid to Gaza as soon as possible and to enable British citizens trapped in Gaza to leave.

At least seven Britons have been killed and at least nine have been missing since the Israeli attack, Mr. Sunak's spokesman said earlier Wednesday.

Meanwhile, British Foreign Secretary James Cleverly, who visited Israel last week, will go to Egypt, Turkey and Qatar over the next three days to discuss the conflict and seek a peaceful solution, his office said.

Britain said the three countries were <x0-cyetic in international efforts to support regional stability, free hostages and allow humanitarian access to Gaza”.

Mr. Cleverly will meet with senior leaders in the region to discuss efforts to prevent the spread of conflict, the urgent need to open the Rafah crossing with Egypt to allow the aid to reach those in need, and for Hamas to release the hostages, London said.