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Rishi Sunak has said Israel has an “absolute right to defend itself” after thousands of rockets were fired from the Gaza Strip in a surprise attack by the Hamas militant group.

The prime minister was joined by a number of UK politicians in condemning the attack, which began in the early hours of Saturday.

At least 100 Israelis have been killed in the attacks by Hamas, prompting the country’s prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, to declare that his country was “at war”.

Palestinian authorities said 198 people have been killed and 1,600 wounded in Gaza after Israeli forces retaliated to the attack.

Writing on X, formerly known as Twitter, Mr Sunak said he was “shocked by this morning’s attacks by Hamas terrorists against Israeli citizens”.

“Israel has an absolute right to defend itself,” he said.

Read more: 98 killed in Gaza as Israel responds to Hamas attack – latest updates

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“We’re in contact with Israeli authorities, and British nationals in Israel should follow travel advice.”

His words were echoed by Foreign Secretary James Cleverly, who said the UK the “unequivocally condemns the horrific attacks by Hamas on Israeli civilians”.

He added: “The UK will always support Israel’s right to defend itself.”

‘Deeply alarming’

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer condemned the attacks and said there was “no justification for this act of terror which is being perpetrated by those who seek to undermine any chance for future peace in the region”.

“Israel has a right to defend herself.”

Sir Keir’s predecessor, Jeremy Corbyn, said called the ongoing conflict “deeply alarming”.

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Israelis taken hostage says Hamas after video shared online.

“We need an immediate ceasefire and urgent de-escalation,” he said.

“And we need a route out of this tragic cycle of violence: ending the occupation is the only means of achieving a just and lasting peace.”

In response, security minister Tom Tugendhat made reference to Mr Corbyn’s previous description of Hamas as “friends” – a comment he later said he regretted.

“Your ‘friends’ Hamas are murdering children and taking civilian hostages,” Mr Tugendhat posted.

“Haven’t you said enough?”

Mr Netanyahu said Hamas would “pay a price that it hasn’t known until now” as he ordered up a call of reservists.

Israel has blockaded Gaza since the Islamic militant group gained control of the territory in 2007 and the two have fought wars ever since.

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Video seems to show Hamas paragliding over border

In a televised address, Mr Netanyahu made his first remarks since the Gaza Strip’s Hamas rulers launched a major, multi-front attack on Israel at daybreak on Saturday.

“We are at war,” Mr Netanyahu said. “Not an ‘operation’, not a ’round’, but at war.”

The prime minister also ordered the military to clear the infiltrated towns of Hamas militants that remained locked in gunfights with Israeli soldiers.

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Hamas launched its attacks on Simchat Torah, deploying dozens of soldiers to the country’s heavily fortified border on Saturday.

Retaliating to the incursion, the Israeli air force confirmed dozens of Israel Defense Forces (IDF) fighter jets struck a number of Hamas military compounds and operational command centres in the Gaza Strip.

Palestine’s President Mahmoud Abbas said the Palestinian people had the right to defend themselves against the “terror of settlers and occupation of troops”.

The scale of injuries, combined with the number of fatalities so far, makes the attack the deadliest in Israeli territory in years.

The IDF warned “the Hamas terror group will pay a very heavy price” saying it was launching a “large-scale operation” called “Swords of Iron” in response to the combined rocket and infantry attack.

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What’s behind Starmer’s reset?

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What's behind Starmer's reset?

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As MPs return to Westminster for a packed autumn term, will the prime minister be back with a bang?

Sky News’ Sam Coates and Politico’s Anne McElvoy discuss Keir Starmer’s priorities as the so-called “reset week” begins.

There’s chatter around No 10 of a staffing restructure but could this impact the government’s message and delivery of its missions?

Back in the Commons, the home secretary will lay out the government’s plans to restrict family members from joining asylum seekers.

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What to expect with US crypto policy as Congress comes back in session

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What to expect with US crypto policy as Congress comes back in session

What to expect with US crypto policy as Congress comes back in session

According to some Republican lawmakers, the first crypto-related priority in the Senate will be to pass legislation for market structure.

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Sir Keir Starmer’s ‘Mr Fixit’ is likely to be a recipe for conflict

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Sir Keir Starmer's 'Mr Fixit' is likely to be a recipe for conflict

After a torrid time before the summer break, Sir Keir Starmer has reshuffled his inner circle again on the first day back. 

This has become something of a habit.

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Although none of the Number 10 team are household names or public figures, the tally of those cycling through the top jobs is worth noting.

As of now, he’s had four chiefs of staff – the incumbent returning to the job, two cabinet secretaries with a third rumoured to be on the way and five directors of communications – a job that routinely fails to last a year these days.

The lesson this tells us is that when there’s blame to go around, Sir Keir is happy to apportion it to his closest aides.

In an interview today, the prime minister was clear that these changes are about moving to a new phase of government, more focused on delivery.

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A delivery phase implies legislation completed and a focus on implementation. Bluntly, this is not the case or an accurate assessment of the job that now needs to be done.

The autumn term is not about implementation.

It’s about filling the £20bn to £40bn black hole we expect to emerge in the autumn budget, as well as continuing to deal with an uncertain world globally, and deciding on massively tricky domestic issues like reform of special educational needs and whether to revisit welfare reform.

We are still at the “big choices” section of this parliament, not the delivery phase.

The big choice in Sir Keir’s reset on Monday has been to bring in his own Mr Fixit into Downing Street.

He chose a mid-level cabinet minister, Darren Jones – until today the number two in the Treasury – and has parachuted him into his office to oversee policy.

This is an appointment, I’m told, that was pushed and encouraged by Rachel Reeves because of Mr Jones’ role in the spending review.

As chief secretary, Mr Jones is meant to have gone item by item through every department’s budget. He knows where the financial bodies are buried and will be a major alternate source of advice for Sir Keir to individual cabinet ministers.

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This is undoubtedly a recipe for conflict. There are already some around the cabinet table who found Mr Jones’ style a touch brusque. His fans say this is part of why he is effective: he is prepared to challenge what he’s told, is an independent thinker and unafraid to challenge big beasts.

He will now play this role permanently, on behalf of the prime minister, and structurally, this means he is bound to be disliked by several of these colleagues who will no doubt, in time, seek to undermine him, just as he will challenge them and have the last word with Sir Keir.

No matter that some might be surprised at the choice, as a fiscal and reforming hawk, since few would put him on the same ideological wing of the party as the prime minister. He is also a late joiner to the Starmer project, although joining in opposition spent years longer than some as chair of the business select committee rather than taking more junior roles.

This is now immaterial. He is responsible for making Sir Keir’s government work in practice. His colleagues could do worse than to sincerely wish him good luck and leave him to it, as there is a great deal to be done.

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