'Terrorism will not prevail!' Foreign Secretary James Cleverly condemns Hamas attack
The Foreign Secretary declared the UK's support for Israel after visiting the embassy today.
The UK's Foreign Secretary has condemned the terror attacks carried out by Hamas against Israel.
Visiting the Israeli Embassy in London today (Monday, October 9), James Cleverly declared the UK's support for the nation.
Posting on X, formerly Twitter, after the meeting, he said: "We will not stay silent as innocent Israelis are murdered by Hamas.
"Terrorism will not prevail.
"Earlier today I visited the Israeli Embassy in London to express this government's support for Israel."
Rishi Sunak has also called a COBRA meeting as the death toll rises.
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Around 50,000 to 60,000 British nationals are believed to be in either Israel and Gaza, the Government estimates, amid concerns for their safety following the latest upsurge in violence in the region.
At least 700 people have reportedly been killed in Israel and more than 400 have been killed in Gaza, over two days after Hamas launched its unprecedented attack.
Among the dead is 20-year-old Nathanel Young, a Briton serving in the Israeli Defence Services who died at the Gaza border on Saturday.
Two other UK nationals – 26-year-old Jake Marlowe, who went to the same London school as Mr Young, and photographer Dan Darlington – are believed to be missing.
It's thought that more than a 100,000 people have been displaced from their homes following thousands of rocket missile strikes across both Israel and the Gaza Strip.
Hamas terrorists were filmed dragging away women and children at gunpoint as hostages. Meanwhile, they paraded the naked body of a German tourist through the streets in a sick video.
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The Government is helping the families of several individuals in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories.
The Foreign Office has advised against all but essential travel to the region due to the conflict.
The Prime Minister, who spoke to Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday, has promised to offer Israel any support it needs as it hits back at the Palestinian militants.
“We already have a very long-standing relationship with Israel, we’re one of their strongest allies,” Mr Sunak said on Monday.
“We’ve provided in the past the kinds of equipment that they’ve used to defend themselves over the past couple of days.
“And as I said to the prime minister, we will continue to provide – whether that’s diplomatic, intelligence or security – support, as they need.”
It comes as Israel's defence minister has ordered a "complete siege" of Gaza vowing to cut electricity and block the entry of food and fuel into the enclave.
Yoav Gallant said he would impose a total blockade on the city meaning supplies will not be able to enter the region.
Israel is able to restrict what goods are allowed in and out of the Gaza Strip via its border crossings while also controlling the air space above it.
Mr Gallant said: "I ordered a full siege on the Gaza Strip. No power, no food, no gas, everything is closed. We are fighting human animals and we act accordingly."
Meanwhile, the Israeli military said it has wrestled back control of towns infiltrated by Hamas fighters, but has warned gunmen may still be in the area.
Daniel Hagari, a spokesperson for the Israeli Defence Force (IDF), said fighting on Monday morning in areas surrounding the Gaza Strip had been limited to “isolated” incidents.