On Friday, the British Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak, strongly denounced the alarming increase in anti-Semitic incidents in the UK in the aftermath of Hamas’s violent attack on Israel.
London’s Metropolitan Police have reported a significant surge in anti-Semitic crimes and occurrences since the beginning of the war.
Deputy Assistant Commissioner Laurence Taylor of the Metropolitan Police disclosed that from September 30 to October 13, there were 105 incidents of anti-Semitism and 75 anti-Semitic offences, a stark contrast to the 14 incidents and 12 offences recorded during the corresponding period the previous year.
In a statement, UK Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak conveyed, “To our Jewish community: I understand the pain and shock caused by these abhorrent acts of terrorism. During times like this, when Jewish individuals are facing threats in their homeland, Jewish communities worldwide may feel a sense of insecurity. I offer my support to you, and I am fully committed to ensuring your protection.”
“We are fully committed to ensuring the safety of Jewish people in our nation. If any obstacles stand in the way of safeguarding the Jewish community, we will address them. My solidarity with the British Jewish community is unwavering, not only today or tomorrow but always,” the statement continued.
Rishi Sunak’s support for Israel
In a comprehensive 300-word statement, Rishi Sunak assured both the Israeli population and the Jewish community in the UK that his government would extend unwavering and unequivocal support in the face of malevolence, vowing to exert every effort to address the recent upsurge in anti-Semitic incidents over the past week.
Sunak emphasized that Israel possessed the “full right to defend itself,” while underscoring the paramount importance of prioritizing the safety of innocent civilians. He further highlighted that he had engaged in a conversation on this matter with Israeli leader Benjamin Netanyahu during a call held on Thursday.
Prime Minister Sunak also urged Israel to adopt “all necessary precautions to safeguard civilians” in its response to the Hamas attack, which resulted in the loss of more than 1,300 lives in Israel, with approximately 150 individuals being held hostage by the militants.
In retaliation to the attack, Israel has conducted strikes in the Gaza Strip resulting in the deaths of over 1,500 individuals and has also disrupted the provision of essential resources such as food, water, and electricity in the area.
Updates of the war-
As the Israel-Palestine conflict extends into its eighth day, The Times of Israel has reported that the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have announced their readiness for a “significant ground operation” in the Gaza Strip. According to the IDF statement, they are in the final stages of preparations to “escalate the offensive” by executing a “broad array of offensive operational strategies,” including a “joint and coordinated assault involving air, sea, and ground forces.”
Hamas has previously asserted that Israeli airstrikes have resulted in the deaths of 13 captives in Gaza. Hamas mentioned that some of the casualties were foreign nationals but did not specify their nationalities.
According to Reuters, the Israeli military has confirmed that a minimum of 279 of its soldiers have lost their lives since October 7th when Hamas initiated its assault on southern Israel. The overall count of Israeli casualties has been reported to exceed 1,300 fatalities.
On the other hand, Gaza’s health ministry has stated that over 2,300 individuals have succumbed to the Israeli bombing campaign in the Gaza Strip following the Hamas attack. Medical professionals are sounding alarms, cautioning that thousands more lives may be at risk as the medical facilities in the region deplete their fuel and supplies.
