Brief by Shorts91 Newsdesk / 09:52pm on 18 Oct 2023,Wednesday International
UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak will visit Israel on Thursday amid efforts to de-escalate the conflict with Hamas. Sunak will offer condolences for civilian deaths and push for humanitarian aid access to Gaza. Meanwhile, Foreign Secretary James Cleverly will meet regional leaders to seek support for a peaceful resolution and release of UK hostages. The diplomatic efforts follow US President Biden's controversial visit backing Israel's account of the Gaza hospital blast that killed hundreds. With Israel threatening a Gaza ground offensive, Sunak said leaders must come together to avoid further escalation. His trip signals the UK wants to urgently use its diplomatic influence to contain the crisis.
