UK PM visits Egypt Friday to discuss de-escalation of Palestinian-Israeli war

CAIRO – 20 October 2023: British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak will visit Egypt on Friday, as part of a tour around the Middle East, to discuss the de-escalation of the ongoing Israeli air-strikes on the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, the West Bank, and Jerusalem.

Sunak travelled to Saudi Arabia, where he met with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, saying on his X account (formerly known as Twitter): “We agreed on coordinated action to prevent further escalation in the region, provide vital humanitarian aid in Gaza, and support stability, both now and in the long-term.”

Sunak started his tour in Israel, where he announced the UK support for Israel. The UK announced sending two Royal Navy warships, three helicopters, and marine soldiers to the eastern Mediterranea-n to support Israel, enhance regional security, and de-escalate the situation.

Britain initially announced that it would suspend the development aid to the Palestinians, but it stepped back following international condemnation of the ongoing Israeli attacks on Palestinian civilians in the Gaza Strip. Later, it said that it would increase aid to the Palestinians by a third, with an additional support of £10 million.

Sunak’s visit comes as part of the international efforts to contain the escalating violence between the Palestinians and Israelis through holding consultations with influential countries like Egypt.

The UK, which supported the establishment of Israel in 1917 in the Balfour Declaration, supports the two-state solution on the borders of 1967 and putting an end to the Israeli occupation.

Britain’s stance on the Palestinian cause is interlinked with its interests in the Middle East in terms of military cooperation and energy supplies with reasonable prices from Middle Eastern countries, especially in light of the Russian-Ukraine war. Therefore, it seeks to bring stability to the region without abandoning its support for Israel’s security.

The UK has also built up strong economic relations and investments throughout its companies in several countries of the Middle East.

Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi and King Abdullah of Jordan warned of the serious impact of the Israeli collective punishment policies in Gaza on regional security.

In a meeting in Egypt, Sisi and King Abdullah discussed the ongoing military escalation in Gaza, which led to the deterioration of the security and humanitarian conditions in the strip and the death and injury of thousands of Palestinians.

In this regard, the two leaders reiterated their condemnation of the bombing of Al-Ahli Baptist Hospital and all acts of violence against civilians.

Hamas' Qassam Brigades launched on October 7 an offensive on Israeli settlements in the occupied lands by firing 5,000 missiles in 20 minutes, invoking airstrikes on Gaza that incurred scores of casualties and have not ceased until present.

Hamas fighters launched their military operation to end the suffering of the Palestinians under the Israeli siege in the Gaza Strip, and stop the provocative actions of the Israeli forces and settlers in the West Bank and Jerusalem.

In the latest death toll announced by the Palestinian Ministry of Health, more than 3,500 people have been killed (the majority are women and children), and other 12,000 were injured as a result of the Israeli aggression on Gaza. Meanwhile, the number of people killed in the West Bank by Israeli forces reached 69 Palestinians and the number of the injured rose to 1,300.

Israel announced that the number of deaths reached 1,400 Israelis and more than 3,400 others were injured.