The Prime Minister spoke on the phone with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu
Prime Minister of Great Britain Rishi Sunak warned of the consequences of a military operation in Rafah, in the south of the Gaza Strip. The London government said Sunak spoke by phone with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday. He said Britain was deeply concerned about the loss of life in Gaza and the “potentially devastating humanitarian consequences of the military intervention in Rafah”.
Last week, Netanyahu ordered the military to present plans for an offensive on Rafah and for the evacuation of the population there. According to UN data, 1.3 million people live in Rafah. Most fled there from other parts of the Gaza Strip before the war, some on orders from the Israeli military.
Sunak reiterated that it was a priority to negotiate a humanitarian pause to allow for the safe release of the hostages and a significant increase in aid to Gaza. He called on Israel to fully open the Kerem Shalom border crossing and allow the delivery of aid by sea and through the port of Ashdod. According to the statement, Sunak also emphasized Israel's right to self-defense. Sunak also hosted King Abdullah II of Jordan and spoke to him about the crisis.