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Rishi Sunak met with Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas in Egypt’s capital metropolis Cairo
Rishi Sunak has met the Palestinian Authority president in Egypt as share of a tour of the Middle East.
Mr Sunak and Mahmoud Abbas jointly condemned Hamas’s attacks on Israel and the PM “expressed his deep condolences” for civilian deaths in Gaza.
He also met Egyptian President Abdul Fattah al-Sisi, agreeing the have to handbook definite of a “contagion of warfare”.
The PM known as for the swift reopening of the Egypt-Gaza border, where some 20 reduction trucks are poised to enter.
In a summary of the conversation between Mr Sunak and Mr Abbas, Downing Boulevard acknowledged they “condemned Hamas’s terrorism and pressured that Hamas attain now not symbolize the Palestinian other folks”.
“The prime minister underscored his dedication to opening up humanitarian win entry to to Gaza to alleviate the suffering of hundreds of alternative folks that desperately want meals, water and medicine,” the statement added.
Mr Abbas is head of the Palestinian Authority, which has regulate over areas of the occupied West Financial institution, but now not the Hamas-flee Gaza Strip.
In his earlier meeting with President El-Sisi, Downing Boulevard acknowledged Mr Sunak “praised Egypt’s efforts in attempting to stable the provision of reduction” thru the Rafah border crossing with Gaza.
The statement also eminent the pair agreed “international leaders could perhaps maybe maybe additionally aloof attain everything attainable to handbook definite of a contagion of warfare in the predicament” in addition to gain “every effort” to finish terrorism and supply protection to civilians.
Speaking to journalists before boarding a airplane again to the UK, Mr Sunak acknowledged getting humanitarian reduction to those in Gaza is an “instant priority” and the UK has been in discussions with Egypt on how to give “helpful assistance on the bottom”.
He also acknowledged the reopening of the border had been share of his conversations with Middle East leaders, adding that he turned into as soon as “very delighted that that can now imminently occur”.
Quickly after Mr Sunak spoke, US President Joe Biden acknowledged reduction trucks gain been likely to wicked into Gaza within the “subsequent 24 to 48 hours”.
Image source, Reuters
Rishi Sunak met Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on Thursday
Sooner than travelling to Egypt on Friday, Mr Sunak thanked the emir of Qatar for his efforts to attend stable the unlock of hostages taken by Hamas.
Meeting in Saudi Arabia’s capital Riyadh, Mr Sunak and Qatar’s leader Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani agreed to attain “everything attainable” to handbook definite of an escalation of violence all the way in which thru the predicament, Downing Boulevard acknowledged.
The United Countries says the main reduction supply into Gaza by approach of the Rafah border crossing in Egypt is anticipated to occur “in the following day or so”.
The territory has been below a “total siege” since closing Monday, with Israel blocking wicked-border affords of water, electrical energy and fuel.
Israeli warplanes and artillery gain been bombarding the territory after greater than 1,400 other folks gain been killed in Hamas’s assault on Israel on 7 October. Palestinian officers teach greater than 4,000 other folks gain since been killed in the Gaza Strip.
Dozens of trucks are backed up on the crossing on the Egyptian border, carrying meals, water, and medicine but no fuel. It is believed splendid 20 will initially be allowed to wicked.
More on Israel-Gaza war
Mr Sunak began his Middle East tour on Thursday, starting in Israel, where Mr Sunak acknowledged he turned into as soon as proud to toughen the country in its “long war” against Hamas.
On Thursday, Mr Sunak suggested Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to toughen stability in the predicament.
Downing Boulevard acknowledged the pair agreed the “loss of innocent lives in Israel and Gaza over the closing two weeks has been horrific” and “underscored the have to handbook definite of any extra escalation in the predicament”.
It got right here after a immediate test with to Tel Aviv, where he met with High Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and acknowledged he turned into as soon as “proud” to stand with Israel in its “darkest hour” – declaring the UK’s backing for its fight against Hamas.
On Saturday, Egypt will host a summit on the system ahead for the Palestinian topic, with Arab and UN leaders attending.
Stare: Sunak tells Israel’s PM he supports the country