King expresses ‘deep shock’ in call with Israel’s president – as Prince William says he is ‘profoundly distressed’
The King has expressed his condolences and “deep shock” at the “barbaric” actions by Hamas in a call with Israel’s president – as Prince William said he was “profoundly distressed” by the “horrors” inflicted.
Israel’s President Isaac Herzog thanked the King for his support and said his words were an “important statement” which would serve as a “great comfort to the people of Israel”.
Mr Herzog’s office said in a statement: “President Isaac Herzog spoke today with the King of the United Kingdom, King Charles III, who called to express his condolences and deep shock at the criminal and barbaric actions of the terrorist organisation Hamas in its attack on the citizens of Israel.”
The statement added: “The two talked at length about the terrible massacre and how it was carried out.
“The conversation between the two took place as part of a series of conversations the president has been holding on a daily basis with leaders from all over the world, including leaders of international organizations, and Jewish community leaders.”
The King has also asked to be “actively updated” on the conflict as he is “appalled” by the “barbaric acts of terrorism” in Israel, Buckingham Palace has said.
The spokesman said the King is “extremely concerned” and his “thoughts and prayers are with all of those suffering”.
Meanwhile, in a statement on X, formerly known as Twitter, a spokesperson for the Prince and Princess of Wales said: “[They] are profoundly distressed by the devastating events that have unfolded in the past days.
“The horrors inflicted by Hamas’s terrorist attack upon Israel are appalling, they utterly condemn them.
“As Israel exercises its right to self defence, all Israelis and Palestinians will be continued to be stalked by grief, fear and anger in the time to come.”
Key developments in the conflict:
• Met Police appeals for people to send them footage of attacks in Israel
• 17 British nationals, including children, killed or missing, Sky News understands
• Netanyahu and opposition agree to form emergency government
• At least 1,200 Israelis dead and more than 2,700 injured, IDF says
• At least 1,100 Palestinians dead and 5,184 injured in Israeli strikes, Gaza Health Ministry says
• Hamas attacks airport shortly after BA flight was due to land
• Sky correspondent visits kibbutz that became site of a massacre
The royals have issued statements as British Foreign Secretary James Cleverly is in Israel to express the UK’s “solidarity” in the wake of the Hamas attacks.
Mr Cleverly was seen running for cover as air sirens blared in the city of Ofakim.
He later said in a statement on X: “Today I’ve seen a glimpse of what millions experience every day.
“The threat of Hamas rockets lingers over every Israeli man, woman and child.
“This is why we are standing shoulder to shoulder with Israel.”
The Israeli foreign ministry said the siren was warning citizens of incoming Hamas rocket fire.
The King’s connection with Israel
When he was the Prince of Wales, the King carried out his first official tour of Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories in 2020.
It marked the highest-level visit by a member of the monarchy to Israel and the Palestinian areas.
He visited the grave of his grandmother Princess Alice, who was famed for offering refuge to Jewish people during the Second World War in Nazi-occupied Athens.
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Cleverly runs for cover in Israel
Gaza runs out of power as violence continues
Israel is continuing its bombardment of Gaza in response to a surprise attack on the country by Hamas over the weekend.
Israel is carrying out a “total siege” of Gaza to stop the entry of food, fuel and medicines into the territory.
The city of 2.3 million people has been left without electricity after its sole power station ran out of energy.
Fresh appeals have been made for information on what would have been the 20th birthday of Ellis Cox, who was shot dead in Liverpool last June.
A number of people have been arrested in connection with the murder at Liver Industrial Estate, but no one has been charged yet.
The 19-year-old’s family and police have paid tribute to him and called for those with information to come forward.
He was shot in the back after a confrontation between his friends and another group of up to three males on Sunday 23 June.
Ellis Cox who was shot dead in June 2024. Pic: Merseyside Police
His mother Carolyn paid tribute in an appeal to coincide with what would have been his 20th birthday.
“He was so kind… so laid back, so calm, so mature for his age. And he was just funny. Very funny.
“He was my baby… no mum should have to bury a child. He was my life. And I don’t know what to do without him.”
Mum Carolyn Cox (left) and aunt Julie O’Toole (right) are looking for answers
Meanwhile, his aunt Julie O’Toole said he was “the sort of person I think you’d be hard pressed to find anyone to say anything negative about. He was loyal, fiercely loyal… everything was about his family”.
To pay tribute to Ellis, Liverpool City Council will be lighting up the Cunard Building and Liverpool Town Hall in orange on Saturday.
DCI Steve McGrath does not believe Ellis was involved in criminality
Detective Chief Inspector Steve McGrath, the senior investigating officer, spoke about the information gathered so far, six months on from Mr Cox’s murder.
“I’m satisfied that the group that he was with was probably the target… and I would say that’s got something in relation to do with localised drug dealing in that area. But Ellis had no involvement in that whatsoever,” he said.
He added that police are looking for “really significant pieces of evidence now”, including “trying to recover the firearm that was used in relation to this, looking to recover the bikes that were used by the offenders”.
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Mrs Cox also appealed for people to come forward with information.
“If you know anything, don’t let us get to [his] next birthday and still know nothing.
“We need to get justice for Ellis. And we need to get the people who took him from us off the streets.”
UK
Reward of £20,000 offered to identify parents of three siblings abandoned as babies over eight years
A £20,000 reward is being offered for information that leads to the identification of the parents of three siblings found abandoned in London over eight years.
The Metropolitan Police said that despite more than 450 hours of CCTV being reviewed, the parents of the three children, known as Elsa, Roman and Harry, remain unidentified.
However, it is believed their mother has lived in an area of east London “over the past six years”.
Elsa was believed to be less than an hour old when she was found by a dog walker on 18 January last year, in East Ham, east London.
In the months that followed it was found that she had two siblings who were also abandoned in similar circumstances, in the same area of London, in 2017 and 2019.
On Saturday, police said the independent group Crimestoppers had offered a £20,000 reward for information passed to the charity, which will expire on 18 April.
Detective Inspector Jamie Humm, of the Met’s child abuse investigation team, said: “We have carried out extensive inquiries over the past year to try and locate Elsa’s parents.
Baby Roman. Pic: Met Police/PA
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“This has involved reviewing over 450 hours of CCTV and completing a full DNA structure of the mother.
“We have serious concerns for the wellbeing of the parents, especially the mother, and are continuing to work closely with Newham Council and appeal for the public’s help for information.
“I believe that someone in the area will have been aware of the mother’s pregnancies and that within the community there may be (or) have been concerns for this mother’s welfare.
“Thanks to the DNA work of forensic colleagues, police will be able to eliminate any unconnected person quickly and easily, as such I would ask you to contact police with confidence.”
The baby was found at the junction of Greenway and High Street South in Newham. Pic: PA
Elsa was found wrapped in a towel in a reusable shopping bag, of which police have also released a new image, and was kept warm by the dog walker. She was uninjured.
Police said at the time that it was “highly likely” that she was born after a “concealed pregnancy”.
The Boots bag in which Baby Elsa was found abandoned by a dog walker in Newham on 18 January 2024. Pic: Met Police/PA
The BBC reported that at an initial court hearing, East London Family Court was told it took doctors three hours to record Elsa’s temperature because of the cold, and the Met Office said that temperatures dropped to as low as -4C on the night she was found.
Hospital staff named her Elsa in a reference to the character from the film Frozen.
The police investigation into the identity of the children’s parents continues, and anyone with information is asked to call police on 101 or post @MetCC ref Operation Wolcott.
People can also contact Crimestoppers anonymously at any time on 0800 555 111 or via Crimestoppers-uk.org.
Fresh appeals have been made for information on what would have been the 20th birthday of Ellis Cox, who was shot dead in Liverpool last June.
A number of people have been arrested in connection with the murder at Liver Industrial Estate, but no one has been charged yet.
The 19-year-old’s family and police have paid tribute to him and called for those with information to come forward.
He was shot in the back after a confrontation between his friends and another group of up to three males on Sunday 23 June.
Ellis Cox who was shot dead in June 2024. Pic: Merseyside Police
His mother Carolyn paid tribute in an appeal to coincide with what would have been his 20th birthday.
“He was so kind… so laid back, so calm, so mature for his age. And he was just funny. Very funny.
“He was my baby… no mum should have to bury a child. He was my life. And I don’t know what to do without him.”
Mum Carolyn Cox (left) and aunt Julie O’Toole (right) are looking for answers
Ellis’ mum described him as ‘kind” and “funny. Pic: Merseyside Police
Meanwhile, his aunt Julie O’Toole said he was “the sort of person I think you’d be hard pressed to find anyone to say anything negative about. He was loyal, fiercely loyal… everything was about his family”.
To pay tribute to Ellis, Liverpool City Council will be lighting up the Cunard Building and Liverpool Town Hall in orange on Saturday.
DCI Steve McGrath does not believe Ellis was involved in criminality
Detective Chief Inspector Steve McGrath, the senior investigating officer, spoke about the information gathered so far, six months on from Mr Cox’s murder.
“I’m satisfied that the group that he was with was probably the target… and I would say that’s got something in relation to do with localised drug dealing in that area. But Ellis had no involvement in that whatsoever,” he said.
He added that police are looking for “really significant pieces of evidence now”, including “trying to recover the firearm that was used in relation to this, looking to recover the bikes that were used by the offenders”.
Read more from Sky News:
The Commons venue that changed political history
Link between A&E waiting times and chance of death
Missing sisters made earlier visit to same bridge
Mrs Cox also appealed for people to come forward with information.
“If you know anything, don’t let us get to [his] next birthday and still know nothing.
“We need to get justice for Ellis. And we need to get the people who took him from us off the streets.”
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