Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman emphasized to British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak that his nation regarded the targeting of Gaza’s civilians as a grave atrocity and a brutal assault, according to a report by the Saudi state news agency SPA. This discussion occurred during Thursday’s meeting in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
In contrast, just a few hours before this, Sunak had reassured Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that he had confidence in his country’s efforts to minimize harm to civilians.
A spokesperson for Sunak, who is currently on a two-day Middle East trip, stated that the Crown Prince and the Prime Minister acknowledged the tragic loss of innocent lives in Israel and Gaza during the past two weeks. They stressed the importance of preventing further escalation in the region and agreed to coordinate actions.
The Prime Minister and the Crown Prince also agreed on the urgent necessity for humanitarian access to Gaza to provide essential supplies like water, food, and medicine. Additionally, Sunak detailed the measures taken by the UK to address the increasingly critical humanitarian situation, including the announcement of an additional £10 million in aid.
The Prime Minister urged the Crown Prince to leverage Saudi Arabia’s regional leadership to promote stability in the present and future.
In a broader context, the Prime Minister and Crown Prince expressed their anticipation of collaborating to advance common interests between the UK and Saudi Arabia, especially in bolstering regional security.
The previous day, Sunak visited Israel and engaged in discussions with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Isaac Herzog. Following their meeting, they held a brief press conference during which Netanyahu expressed his gratitude to Sunak for his support.
Netanyahu expressed that the ongoing situation was expected to be a protracted conflict, emphasizing Israel’s constant need for the UK’s continuous support. He further underscored Israel’s commitment to taking all necessary precautions to prevent harm to civilians, distinguishing it from the actions of Hamas.
In response, Sunak conveyed his pride in standing with Israel during what he referred to as its most challenging period.
Sunak said he welcomed the opening of a humanitarian corridor into Gaza.
The conflict began on October 7 when Hamas initiated Operation Al-Aqsa Flood. This multi-pronged surprise attack included rocket launches and infiltrations into Israel by land, sea, and air. It said the incursion was in retaliation for the storming of the Al-Aqsa Mosque and growing violence by Israeli settlers.
The Israeli military subsequently initiated “Operation Swords of Iron” against Hamas targets in the Gaza Strip.
Sunak expressed the UK’s support for Israel’s right to self-defense while advocating for humanitarian access to Gaza following the Hamas attack. It’s important to note that the US vetoed the UN Security Council resolution that called for “humanitarian pauses” to facilitate aid delivery to millions in Gaza. In this case, the UK chose not to support the resolution and instead abstained.
UN Chief Antonio Guterres has called for an “immediate humanitarian ceasefire” to alleviate the widespread human suffering.
According to the Health Ministry, the Israeli-targeted strikes in the Gaza Strip have resulted in 3,785 Palestinian fatalities, including 1,524 children and 12,400 injuries. The Israeli army reported that 1,400 Israelis, including 302 soldiers from the military wing of Hamas, Izz al-Din al-Qassam, have been killed.
Special Reporter, Mumbai, India