James Cleverly, British Foreign Office Minister, spoke about the UK’s support for Israel’s self-defence on a recent visit to the country. Cleverly’s visit comes as the Israeli government continues to respond to recent attacks by Hamas. The UK has signaled its “unwavering solidarity” with Israel during this time. Despite this, Cleverly emphasized the UK’s desire to see as few civilian casualties as possible during the conflict.
Speaking to reporters in Israel, Cleverly acknowledged Israel’s right to defend itself and try to retrieve kidnapped citizens. He also praised Israel’s efforts to minimize the risk to non-combatants. However, he cautioned against Hamas’ tendency to embed itself within civilian populations, making it difficult to target the group without harming civilians.
Both the UK and US have voiced their support for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s administration in the wake of the recent attacks. Yet, there are fears the conflict could escalate, with over 1,200 lives lost in Israel and over 1,000 people killed in the Israeli air strikes on Gaza. The United Nations and others have expressed concerns about the impact of attacks on civilians.
The Israeli government has blocked the passage of food, water, fuel, and medicine into the territory. Egypt recently shut down the sole remaining access to Gaza, raising humanitarian concerns. Cleverly’s visit to Israel follows comments by Defence Secretary Grant Shapps, defending Israel’s right to defend itself while urging respect for international law. Support for Israel has been echoed by Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer.
Finally, the British government has been working to ensure the safety and return of British citizens affected by the conflict. Seventeen British nationals, including children, have been confirmed dead or missing. Shadow foreign secretary David Lammy has asked the government for clarity on the help being offered to British citizens in Israel. Meanwhile, British Airways has suspended flights to Israel after one of its planes experienced issues. The UK has stressed the need to protect the country’s Jewish community while also emphasizing the importance of peaceful discussion of Palestinian issues
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