British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak will travel to Egypt on Friday, where he will talk with counterparts in the region to discuss the situation in Israel and Gaza, his office said.
According to Reuters, Sunak will stress “the imperative of avoiding regional escalation and preventing the further unnecessary loss of civilian life”.
South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa also confirmed he will attend the meeting.
Sunak’s visit comes after US President Joe Biden’s visit to the area. Both men have supported the military strikes on Gaza, stressing that Israel had the right to defend itself from civilian forces.
On Monday, the UK government also announced £10 million in humanitarian aid for civilians in occupied Palestinian Territories.
Sunak’s visit also comes from a meeting with Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. “We agreed on coordinated action to prevent further escalation in the region, provide vital humanitarian aid in Gaza and support stability, both now and in the long term,” said Sunnak in a post on X (formerly Twitter.)
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Al-Ahli Baptist Hospital bombed
Just as Biden left Israel on Tuesday, a military strike hit the Al-Ahli Baptist Hospital in the densely populated region.
Hundreds of fleeing civilians, many of whom were women, children, healthcare professionals, and internally displaced people, sought refuge at the hospital.
The Hamas-controlled Palestinian authorities in Gaza immediately blamed Israel, claiming it was a deliberate airstrike, while Israel denied involvement.
The Palestine Red Crescent Society has been calling upon the international community to take immediate action and urged Israel to revoke the evacuation orders issued for hospitals in Gaza.
“The hospitals in Gaza have received numerous explicit written threats from the Israeli Occupation Forces, including PRCS Al Quds Hospital- which received these threats repeatedly three times,” said the Palestinian Red Crescent Society in a statement.
“Medical facilities and personnel must be protected, as well as civilians, in accordance with the International Humanitarian Law.”
