Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu welcomed British counterpart Rishi Sunak in Tel Aviv on Thursday, 19 October, for talks as world leaders seek de-escalation of the ongoing war between Israel and Palestinian Hamas militant group.
Sunak landed in Tel Aviv on Thursday morning. Upon arriving in Tel Aviv, Sunak was cited by the BBC as describing the Hamas attacks on October 7 as an "unspeakable, horrific act of terrorism", while reiterating that the UK stood with Israel.
After the talks with Netanyahu, he will meet Israeli President Isaac Herzog.
Sunak will later travel to other countries in the region for further discussions, Downing Street has announced.
His visit comes a day after U.S. President Joe Biden traveled to Israel.
Netanyahu said on Wednesday that Israel and the US “are working together to secure the release of the hostages by all means possible.” He also added that Israel will not allow food and medical aid to enter Gaza from Israeli territory until the hostages are released.
Israel has continued to bomb the Gaza Strip in retaliation for the unprecedented deadly attack on Israel carried out by Hamas on 7 October.
According to the Gaza Health Ministry, Israeli strikes killed at least 3,300 people and wounded 10,000 since Israel launched retaliatory airstrikes 11 days ago. More than 1,400 people in Israel have been killed, and some 200 were taken captive into Gaza.
