Prime Minister Rishi Sunak informed parliament that the United Kingdom has intelligence suggesting that the explosion at Gaza’s Al-Ahli hospital was likely caused by a missile fired from within Gaza. Sunak stated that the conclusion was based on their “deep knowledge and analysis of our intelligence.” This statement comes after media sources, including the BBC, initially reported a statement from Hamas blaming Israel for the blast. Israel promptly responded, denying responsibility and instead pointing towards a misfired rocket from within Gaza.
Sunak cautioned about the negative effects of “misreporting” on the blast, which led to regional leaders canceling a meeting with US President Joe Biden. Biden later supported Israel’s assessment of the incident. In response, the UK pledged an additional £20 million of humanitarian aid to Gaza, doubling its earlier donation. Sunak said Palestinians are “victims of Hamas,” further providing support for the two-state solution for an independent Palestinian state alongside Israel.
Sunak also condemned the use of the word “jihad” at a pro-Palestinian protest in London over the weekend, noting that it is a threat to democratic values and the Jewish community, emphasizing the need for police action to tackle extremism head-on. In recent months, Israel and Hamas have sustained their conflict with one another, with Hamas firing rockets into Israeli territory and Israel launching airstrikes into Gaza. Israel attributes over 1,400 deaths to Hamas’ attacks since October 7, while Gaza’s health ministry claims that over 5,000 people have been killed in the region.
The UK’s intelligence analysis appears to back Israel’s claims that the blast was not caused by them, but instead from a misfire within Gaza. Sunak’s support for the two-state solution and investment in regional stability may help ease some tensions relating to the conflict. However, it remains to be seen how the situation will develop in the coming weeks and months, with the threat of further violence between the two sides remaining high
Read the full article from The BBC here: Read More