Rishi Sunak tells Benjamin Netanyahu Israel needs to ‘minimise impact’ on Palestinian civilians
Rishi Sunak has raised with Benjamin Netanyahu Israel’s need to minimise the impact on civilians as it prepares to launch an expected ground invasion of Gaza in the aftermath of Hamas’s deadly attack.
The prime minister repeated his belief that Israel has “every right to defend itself and its people to ensure that nothing like this ever happens again”.
But he said he had a conversation with the Israeli premier in which he raised “the need to minimise the impact on civilians as best we can”.
Speaking on a visit to a Jewish school in north London, Mr Sunak said he had also raised the humanitarian situation in Gaza – where so far 2,700 Palestinians have been killed and 9,700 people wounded in retaliatory airstrikes by Israel.
The prime minister’s visit precedes a statement to parliament later today in which he is expected to give a fuller condemnation of Hamas.
The UN has warned that hospitals across Gaza are expected to run out of fuel within 24 hours.
Israel, which controls almost all crossings into Gaza, has ramped up already strict blockades until hostages are released, while hundreds of tonnes of aid from several countries have been held up in Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula for days pending a deal for its safe delivery to Gaza.
Israel-Hamas war live – ‘There’s no humanitarian crisis in Gaza,’ says Israeli ambassador
Israel launched its airstrikes in the aftermath of the surprise attack by Hamas on 7 October which killed 1,400 people and left 3,500 wounded.
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What is Israel’s military plan?
According to the Israeli military, at least 199 people are being held hostage in Gaza.
The UK’s Foreign Secretary James Cleverly indicated that around 10 British people were among them.
Mr Sunak said Israel’s operations must centre on Hamas, telling reporters: “Israel has been very clear that Hamas is the entity that’s responsible for this and what they want to do is ensure that their people are safe and that this doesn’t happen again, and that the focus of the attention of self-defence is on Hamas.
“And I think that’s right, nobody wants to see regional escalation. And certainly the Israeli prime minister does not, when I’ve spoken to him.”
He added: “Israel has given people advance notice of what’s happening, given them the opportunity to leave and it’s Hamas who is now telling people to stay behind, it’s Hamas that is embedding itself inside civilian populations and that is just an example of the barbarity with which they operate.
“They are not doing the right thing by the Palestinian people by those actions, and they should be held accountable for that.”
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Palestinian PM: ‘We are not animals’
‘There is no place in our society for antisemitism’
Mr Sunak’s statement to the Commons is expected to set out how the UK is supporting Israel and aiding British nationals caught in the fighting while also detailing ministers’ response to the humanitarian situation inside Gaza, which sparked a number of demonstrations across the UK at the weekend.
Will this conflict exacerbate divisions here in the UK?
On a visit to a Jewish school in north London this morning, the prime minister reiterated the government’s unwavering support for the Jewish community.
But with a backdrop of a rise in antisemitic incidents and images emerging of demonstrators wearing a picture of a paraglider (akin to those who killed festival goers in Israel as part of the Hamas attacks), concerns about tensions escalating here in the UK won’t be calmed easily.
And following a roundtable last week with police chiefs and Home Secretary Suella Braverman, the prime minister wants to be seen to be tough on crime as the leader of a party that claims to be focused on law and order; especially at a time where the country’s prisons are full and prisoners are potentially being let out early or spared jail time to make room for those who have committed more serious crimes.
But interestingly not all of the British public appear, for now, to be seeing eye to eye with the prime minister when it comes to where their sympathies lie.
According to recent polling from YouGov, 21% said they supported Israel whereas 15% supported the Palestinian side.
However, what is most striking is that 45% said they didn’t know which side their sympathies lay with, demonstrating the lack of clear-cut public support in either direction.
The prime minister’s diplomatic efforts look set to continue this week as he yesterday discussed ways to prevent escalation with King Abdullah of Jordan.
But for today, something to keep an eye on will be the tone with which MPs speak about the conflict as they debate the issue in parliament today and whether we see a shift on either side of the House.
The prime minister said he was “determined to ensure that our Jewish community is able to feel safe on our streets” following the protests.
“There is no place in our society for antisemitism and we will do everything we can to stamp it out,” he said.
“Whenever it happens, it will be met with the full force of the law.”
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‘There is no humanitarian crisis in Gaza’
He added that “several arrests” were made after protests at the weekend, confirming that police are “reviewing footage of some of the things that many people will have seen that are just simply not acceptable”.
“Where they can, they will be able to make further arrests,” he added.
On Monday Home Secretary Suella Braverman posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, about the protests.
She criticised the chanting of the slogan “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free” – which she argued was tantamount to calling for the destruction of Israel.
She said the slogan had been “taken up by Islamists, including Hamas, and remains a staple of antisemitic discourse”.
“To hear it shouted in public causes alarm not just to Jews but to all decent people. Those who promote hate on Britain’s streets should realise that our tolerance has limits.”
In response, Miqdaad Versi of the Muslim Council of Britain said the home secretary was “treading on dangerous ground”.
“A peaceful demonstration is being slurred as ‘an intimidating mob’ and a chant heard at the rally is being mischaracterised,” he posted on X.
Read more:
Recovered bodies show that Hamas has changed
What is the Rafah border crossing and who controls it?
Last week, the prime minister announced £3m in funding to protect schools, synagogues, and other Jewish community buildings in light of the increase in antisemitic incidents and offences since the Israel-Hamas war started.
The Metropolitan Police’s Deputy Assistant Commissioner Laurence Taylor said in the period of 30 September to 13 October last year, there were 14 antisemitic incidents and 12 antisemitic offences, which had risen to 105 antisemitic incidents and 75 antisemitic offences for the same period this year.
The money announced by the government will enable the Community Security Trust to place additional guards in schools it supports throughout each school’s operating hours. They will also be able to place additional security staff at outside synagogues on Friday nights and Saturday mornings.
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Sir Keir Starmer is reshuffling his cabinet following Angela Rayner’s resignation after admitting she had not paid enough stamp duty on the purchase of a new home.
The prime minister’s former right-hand woman stepped down as deputy prime minister, housing secretary and deputy leader of the Labour Party after standards adviser Sir Laurie Magnus found she had breached the ministerial code.
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She paid standard stamp duty on a flat she bought in Hove, East Sussex, in May after taking advice that it counted as her only home due to her disabled son’s trust owning the family home in Ashton-under-Lyne – but it was established she should have paid more.
Her resignation has left a hole around the cabinet table, which Sir Keir is now filling.
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The rise and fall of Angela Rayner
It was stressed early on Chancellor Rachel Reeves would remain as chancellor, in an attempt to stop the markets moving.
Read more: The working class mum who left school at 16 and became deputy PM
This is who is moving and where to:
David Lammy – foreign secretary to justice secretary and deputy PM
After flexing his diplomatic muscles with Donald Trump and his deputy JD Vance over the past year, Mr Lammy will now move to the justice brief.
The move is likely to be a blow as the PM had promised, most recently in November, he would be foreign secretary for the whole parliament until 2029.
Although he is no longer holding one of the four great offices of state, he has also been made deputy prime minister, presumably to soften the blow.
Mr Lammy is close to Sir Keir, both as a friend and in his next door constituency, and was seen grinning as he went into Number 10 after being appointed.
David Lammy is now justice secretary and deputy PM. Pic: Reuters
Yvette Cooper – home secretary to foreign secretary
The Labour stalwart had made tackling illegal migration a priority, so the move could be seen as a disappointment for her.
However, she remains in one of the four great offices of state – PM, chancellor, foreign and home.
Yvette Cooper is now foreign secretary
Shabana Mahmood – justice secretary to home secretary
A big promotion, the straight-talking Labour MP will be tasked with tackling the small boats crisis and asylum seeker hotel protests.
She is no stranger to making difficult decisions, deciding to free criminals early to reduce prison overcrowding as justice secretary.
Her move makes it the first time all three great offices of state, after the prime minister, are held by women.
Shabana Mahmood is now home secretary. Pic: PA
Pat McFadden – chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and intergovernmental minister to work and pensions secretary and head of “super ministry”
Often seen as Sir Keir’s “number two”, Mr McFadden will take over a newly formed “super ministry”.
It will include the department for work and pensions and the skills remit of the department for education – taking a large part of Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson’s brief and taking over from Liz Kendall as work and pensions secretary.
While it is not a promotion at first glance, it is a much wider role than he has had as chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster – the highest-ranking Cabinet Office minister after the PM.
Pat McFadden is work and pensions secretary and head of the ‘super ministry’. Pic: PA
Darren Jones – chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster
It is the second new job in the space of one week for the new chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster. The close ally of the prime minister was promoted from chief secretary to the Treasury on Monday to chief secretary to the prime minister. And now he gets another new job.
Darren Jones is the new chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster
Steve Reed – environment secretary to housing secretary
A promotion for the man who has consistently defended the government lifting inheritance tax relief on farmers.
He takes over one of the two major vacancies left by Ms Rayner and will have the massive task of building 1.5 million new homes during this parliament, as promised by the government.
Steve Reed is now housing secretary
Jonathan Reynolds – business and trade secretary to chief whip
A slightly odd move for the MP seen as a steady pair of hands in his business secretary role.
He takes over from Sir Alan Campbell and will now have to hustle Labour MPs to vote with the government – something that has sometimes proved difficult with the current cohort.
Mr Reynolds will also attend cabinet, as is necessary so he can liaise between the party and No 10.
Jonathan Reynolds is the new chief whip
Peter Kyle – science secretary to business and trade secretary
A promotion for Mr Kyle, who is taking over from Jonathan Reynolds.
He is seen as a rising star and impressed Labour MPs when he refused to stand down after suggesting Nigel Farage was on the side of people like Jimmy Savile by opposing the government’s online safety law.
Mr Kyle will be in charge of getting trade deals with other countries over the line.
Peter Kyle is now business and trade secretary
Emma Reynolds – economic secretary to the Treasury to environment secretary
Probably the biggest promotion of the reshuffle, Ms Reynolds is taking on Mr Reed’s role after serving as a junior minister in the Treasury.
She will have to take on farmers and deal with the water companies – a big undertaking.
Emma Reynolds is now environment secretary
Liz Kendall – work and pensions secretary to science, innovation and technology secretary
Pat McFadden has taken her role as work and pensions secretary, while Ms Kendall takes over Peter Kyle’s brief.
He has made AI a major facet of his role so we will wait to see which direction Ms Kendall takes the job in.
Liz Kendall is the new science secretary. Pic: PA
Douglas Alexander – trade policy minister to Scotland secretary
A promotion for the Blair/Brown minister who returned to politics last year after being ousted in 2015 by then 20-year-old SNP MP Mhairi Black.
He takes over from Ian Murray, who has been removed from the cabinet.
Douglas Alexander is the new Scotland secretary
Sir Alan Campbell – Chief whip to Lord President of the Council and leader of the House of Commons
An MP since 1997 and part of Tony Blair and Gordon Brown’s frontbench, Sir Alan is taking over Lucy Powell’s role.
He will be in charge of organising government business in the Commons – a sizeable job.
Who is out?
Lucy Powell has been sacked as leader of the House of Commons.
Ian Murray has been sacked as Scotland secretary.
Bridget Phillipson remains as education secretary but her brief has narrowed as Mr McFadden has taken over the skills part of her job.
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