By Burak Bir
LONDON (AA) - Britain’s prime minister on Tuesday had separate phone calls with the Saudi crown prince and the Qatari emir to discuss the latest developments in the ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestine.
During a phone call with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Rishi Sunak agreed on the importance of avoiding further destabilization across the region, including through "Iranian proxies in the region," according to a statement by the Prime Minister's Office.
The statement said that Sunak set out his country's “support for Israel’s right to defend itself against terror and combat the threat from Hamas."
He said the UK would provide “further humanitarian aid” for Palestinians in Gaza.
The British prime minister also said that the UK would continue to support the legitimate aspirations of the Palestinian people "to statehood, alongside regional partners like Saudi Arabia, Jordan and Egypt."
"The leaders also discussed wider cooperation between the United Kingdom and Saudi Arabia, including in the areas of defence, trade and investment," added the statement.
During a phone call with Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, the Prime Minister’s Office said: "The leaders discussed areas of cooperation between the UK and Qatar, including on ensuring safe passage for aid to Gaza to alleviate the humanitarian suffering and on urgent efforts to secure the release of hostages."
The two leaders also agreed that the conflict "must not be allowed" to destabilize the wider region and cause further bloodshed.
Eleven days into the conflict with Palestinian group Hamas, Israel's bombardment and blockade of the Gaza Strip has continued, with over one million people displaced – almost half of Gaza's total population, according to the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA).
The fighting began when Hamas on Oct. 7 initiated Operation Al-Aqsa Flood, a multi-pronged surprise attack that included a barrage of rocket launches and infiltrations into Israel by land, sea, and air. It said the incursion was in retaliation for the storming of the Al-Aqsa Mosque and increased violence by Israeli settlers.
The Israeli military then launched Operation Swords of Iron against Hamas targets in the Gaza Strip.
Israel's response has extended into cutting water and electricity supplies to Gaza, further worsening the living conditions in an area that has reeled under a crippling siege since 2007.
At least 3,061 Palestinians have been killed and 13,750 others have been injured in the ongoing Israeli airstrikes on the Gaza Strip, the Health Ministry in Gaza said.
More than 1,400 Israelis have been killed in the armed conflict.