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UK says Israel not to blame for Gaza hospital explosion, tensions rise amongst its people

Author
The Mike Hosking Breakfast,
Publish Date
Tue, 24 Oct 2023, 9:56am
Britain's Prime Minister Rishi Sunak speaks during Prime Minister's Questions in the House of Commons in London. Photo / AP
Britain's Prime Minister Rishi Sunak speaks during Prime Minister's Questions in the House of Commons in London. Photo / AP

UK says Israel not to blame for Gaza hospital explosion, tensions rise amongst its people

Author
The Mike Hosking Breakfast,
Publish Date
Tue, 24 Oct 2023, 9:56am

The UK's Prime Minister has sided with Israel and cleared it of blame for last week's hospital blast in Gaza as tensions caused by the nation's ongoing involvement with the Middle Eastern conflict rise, according to correspondents. 

Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak told the Commons that UK intelligence concluded the explosion at the Al-Ahli hospital on Wednesday, which killed 471 Palestinians and wounded 314 others, was "likely caused by a missile or part of one that was launched from within Gaza towards Israel”.

According to the Guardian, Sunak stressed the UK’s support for Israel but warned against actions that could undermine an eventual two-state solution, including a viable Palestine.

UK Correspondent, Rob Liddle told The Mike Hosking Breakfast on Tuesday that Sunak's declaration had resonated within the conservative party's caucus. 

"There are members of the conservative party who have sympathies with Hamas," said Liddle. 

The correspondent said there have also been a number of marches that have stirred controversy over the last week, one of which was organised by Palestinian activists in London over the weekend. 

"They shouted 'jihad' and in Arabic 'get rid of the Jews', and there is an anger - particularly within the conservatives - that none of these Palestinians were arrested for, had it been any other kind of protest, hate speech," said Liddle. 

According to Liddle, the UK's police commissioner met with British MP, Suella Braverman about the protest, but there is little known about the consequence of the meeting.

He said Braverman was "quite angry", as are many others as a result of a lack of police enforcement over the language used in the protests, as well as a "great deal of terror" amongst the nation's Jewish community. 

"Then there are problems which pend to Keir Starmer [leader of the UK's Labour Party], who to his credit has been very pro-Israel as far as the initial Hamas attack was concerned," said Liddle. 

"But he's facing rising problems within his ranks, with thirty-four MPs demanding Israel stop the bombing of Gaza - despite their leader claiming Israel has every right to pursue some sort of action which will annihilate Hamas."

The British Government, similar to the United States, has been supportive of Israel's objective to rid Hamas from Gaza City and the Gaza straight, said Liddle, but has also been providing humanitarian aid to the Palestinians. 

He said the Israelis will be hoping the aid won't reach the hands of Hamas. 

"But I don't know how you can stop it going into the hands of Hamas, so there's a problem there as well."

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