Britain is defending “specific pauses” instead of a ceasefire on Israel’s bombing of the Gaza Strip to provide humanitarian aid to the Palestinians, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said on Wednesday.
During the weekly debate in parliament, Sunak reiterated his defense of Israel’s right to defend itself against attacks by the Islamist group Hamas, but acknowledged that it was important that there were opportunities for British citizens to leave Gaza, that hostages were released and that humanitarian aid would be provided. enter.
‘We realize that if all this were to happen, There must be a safer environment, which of course requires specific breaks, apart from a ceasefire,” he stressed.
The position is in line with that of other partners, such as the European Union and the United States, a solution that was discussed at the United Nations on Tuesday.
A ceasefire resolution failed due to opposition from four council members, including the United States, which criticized the draft text for not mentioning the Islamist movement Hamas.
Sunak also said that “everything must be done to protect civilians, in accordance with international law”, although the British government does not consider the Israeli siege and bombing to be a breach of international law.
Israel has more than 220 Israeli hostages, as well as hostages of foreign origin or dual nationality kidnapped by Hamas fighters and taken to Gaza in an unprecedented bloody attack on October 7 that sparked a war.
In response, Israel declared war on Hamas, a movement that has controlled the Gaza Strip since 2007 and has been classified as terrorist by the European Union and the United States. Israel bombed several of the group’s infrastructures in the Gaza Strip and imposed a total siege. the area with an interruption of the supply of water, fuel and electricity.
The conflict has already caused thousands of deaths and injuries in both areas, among military personnel and civilians.
Source: DN
