LIVE | Israel-Hamas war: 'Reiterated India's principled position': PM Modi speaks to Palestine President

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak landed in strife-torn Israel and said he "absolutely" supports Israel's "right to defend itself and to go after Hamas"

Update: 2023-10-18 05:49 GMT
People being evacuated following an attack on Gaza Strip by Israeli forces on Thursday. | Photo credit: PTI

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has spoken to Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas to convey his condolences over the loss of lives after the bombing of Al Ahli Hospital in Gaza.

Hundreds of people died after the hospital was targeted on Monday, triggering protests across the Arab world and a string of denials from Israel, which has been blamed for the rocket attack.

“Spoke to the President of the Palestinian Authority H.E. Mahmoud Abbas. Conveyed my condolences at the loss of civilian lives at the Al Ahli Hospital in Gaza. We will continue to send humanitarian assistance for the Palestinian people. Shared our deep concern at the terrorism, violence and deteriorating security situation in the region. Reiterated India’s long-standing principled position on the Israel-Palestine issue," PM Modi posted on Twitter.

In a social media post on Wednesday, PM Modi had said he was “deeply shocked” by the deaths in the attack and extended his condolences to the families of those killed.

Meanwhile, the Union ministry of external affairs on Thursday said the situation in Gaza Strip is not conducive for evacuation of four Indians who are stranded in the war-torn region, adding that the government will bring them back at the first opportunity.

“The situation in Gaza is difficult for any evacuation but if we get a chance, we will get them out,” the MEA spokesperson said during a press conference.

Sunak backs Israel

Following US President Joe Biden's visit, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak landed in strife-torn Israel on Thursday (October 19) and said he "absolutely" supports Israel's "right to defend itself and to go after Hamas".

Sunak is on a two-day visit to the Middle East to hold talks with regional leaders in an effort to prevent further escalation of conflict and push for humanitarian aid for civilians in Gaza amid the ongoing crisis in the region. Addressing a joint conference with Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Sunak said, "I know you are taking every precaution to not harm civilians, unlike the Hamas. Thank you for the evacuation of British citizens." The British PM asserted, "We recognise Palestinians are the victims of Hamas too. Glad you opened areas for humanitarian aid."

“I am in Israel, a nation in grief. I grieve with you and stand with you against the evil that is terrorism. Today, and always,” Sunak tweeted as he landed in Tel Aviv. The British Indian leader’s visit to Israel follows that of US President Joe Biden as world leaders step up efforts to prevent the conflict with Hamas from spilling into the wider region following the unprecedented attack on Israel on October 7 by Hamas militants in Gaza. “Above all, I’m here to express my solidarity with the Israeli people. You have suffered an unspeakable, horrific act of terrorism and I want you to know that the United Kingdom and I stand with you,” he told reporters on his arrival in Israel.

‘Need to stop escalation’

In an earlier statement, the British Prime Minister said the Tuesday attack on the Al Ahli hospital in Gaza should be a “watershed moment” for the world. “Every civilian death is a tragedy. And too many lives have been lost following Hamas' horrific act of terror,” he said.

“The attack on Al Ahli Hospital should be a watershed moment for leaders in the region and across the world to come together to avoid further dangerous escalation of conflict. I will ensure the UK is at the forefront of this effort," he said.

Sunak’s visit comes as other European leaders also undertake similar tours of the Middle East in a show of Western unity. The US, UK, Germany, France and Italy form part of the so-called Quint, a diplomatic collective who have presented a united front over the actions of Hamas in Israel and Gaza.

Deadliest Gaza war

Meanwhile, the Israel-Hamas war that began on October 7 has become the deadliest of five Gaza wars for both sides, with more than 4,000 casualties till now.

More than a million people have fled their homes in the Gaza Strip ahead of an expected Israel invasion that seeks to eliminate Hamas’ leadership after its deadly incursion. Aid groups warn an Israeli ground offensive could hasten a humanitarian crisis.

“Israel has bombed and targeted areas with bakeries in Gaza over the course of the war while dozens of Palestinians were lining up to buy bread, causing high numbers of dead and wounded, Salam Marouf,” the head of the government media office, said in a statement.

By repeatedly targeting bakeries, he said that Israel sought to worsen the humanitarian situation, inflict a greater number of casualties and “make it more difficult for citizens, to the point that obtaining some loaves of bread has become a dangerous journey.” More than five bakeries were targeted in different areas to the north and south of Gaza, either directly or in the area where they are located, Maarouf said.

Aid groups, including the World Food Program, have warned that Gaza is running low on food supplies with shops only having a few days’ worth of supplies left. More are available in warehouses run by humanitarian organisations, but these are hard to reach because of constant bombardment.

Israel allows ‘limited aid’

In some relief to Gazans, Israel said late on Wednesday (October 18) that it would allow Egypt to deliver limited quantities of humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip “in light of a request from” US President Joe Biden.

In a statement, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said it “will not thwart” deliveries of food, water and medicine, as long as the supplies do not reach Hamas. The statement made no mention of badly needed fuel.

This came a day after a massive explosion at a hospital in Gaza City left some 400 people dead and over 300 injured on Tuesday (October 17). Hamas attributed the blast to an Israeli airstrike, but the Israeli military said it was not involved and the explosion was caused by a misfired Palestinian rocket.

The Palestinian Health Ministry has pegged the death toll at 471 while stating that 314 others were injured in the blast.

Biden, who visited Israel on Wednesday, said he asked "tough questions" during a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Tel Aviv. “I was deeply saddened and outraged by the explosion at the hospital in Gaza yesterday. Based on what I’ve seen, it appears it was done by the other team, and not you," he told Netanyahu, publicly endorsing Israeli contention.

Netanyahu’s word on civilians

Israeli PM Netanyahu assured Biden that Israel would try to keep the civilians in Gaza out of harm’s way amid its war with the Hamas.

“This will be a different kind of war because Hamas is a different kind of enemy,” Netanyahu told Biden. “As we proceed in this war, Israel will do everything it can to keep civilians out of harm’s way,” he said.

Netanyahu thanked Biden for coming to Israel and for his unequivocal support, a “support that reflects the overwhelming will of the American people”. Pointing to the fact that Biden is the first ever US president to visit Israel in a time of war, Netanyahu called it “deeply, deeply moving”.

Call for pact

Thousands of people trying to escape Gaza are gathered in Rafah, which has the territory’s only border crossing to Egypt. Mediators are pressing for an agreement to let aid in and refugees with foreign passports out. The US hoped to break a deadlock with President Biden headed to the region, but a planned summit in Jordan was postponed.

Aid workers warned that life in Gaza was near complete collapse because of the Israeli siege that followed a Hamas attack on Israel.

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Live Updates
2023-10-19 15:16 GMT

The leader of the World Jewish Congress met with Pope Francis, urging the Roman Catholic Church's assistance in securing the release of hostages held in the Gaza Strip.

2023-10-19 14:41 GMT

Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO), announced that their trucks are prepared and awaiting deployment once the Rafah crossing is opened, ideally tomorrow. He expressed deep concern about the health and welfare of civilians in Gaza, who are enduring bombardment and siege, as well as the attacks on healthcare facilities in both Gaza and Israel.

2023-10-19 14:33 GMT

The leaders of Egypt and Jordan, President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and King Abdullah II, have condemned the "collective punishment" of Palestinians in Gaza during their meeting in Cairo to discuss the Israel-Hamas conflict. They expressed their unified rejection of policies such as siege, starvation, or displacement affecting Palestinians. Additionally, they warned of the potential regional catastrophe if the war does not cease.

2023-10-19 14:31 GMT

The Israeli government has accused the BBC of spreading a "modern blood libel" for implying Israel's fault in the al-Ahli Arab hospital explosion in Gaza. A BBC reporter's suggestion immediately after the incident led to this accusation, likened by Israel's official account on X to the historically antisemitic lie about Jews using Christian boys' blood for religious rituals. The Israeli account called out the BBC, stating that their accusation was still present online and that they were being watched by the public.

2023-10-19 14:27 GMT

The US and British embassies in Beirut have urged their citizens to leave Lebanon as long as commercial flights are available. This advisory comes amid escalating border tensions between Israel and Hezbollah due to the Israel-Hamas conflict. Both countries had previously cautioned against travel to Lebanon. The US said stated that US citizens should arrange to depart the country. The British embassy issued a similar warning, encouraging British nationals in Lebanon to leave while commercial means of transportation are still accessible. Additionally, they advised exercising caution and avoiding areas where demonstrations might occur.

2023-10-19 13:55 GMT

2023-10-19 13:50 GMT

Trucks carrying essential humanitarian supplies are set to reach Gaza from Egypt’s Sinai peninsula in the upcoming days, as confirmed by the White House. This decision followed President Joe Biden’s rapid trip to Israel after a tragic explosion occurred at a hospital in the besieged region.

After extensive discussions with Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his war cabinet, President Biden revealed that Israel had agreed to permit the opening of the Egypt-Gaza Rafah crossing for the delivery of urgently needed food, water, and medical supplies. However, this assistance is contingent on the condition that Hamas does not divert these humanitarian resources for its own purposes.

President Biden insisted on the critical needs of the people in Gaza, pointing out the necessity for food, water, medicine, and shelter in the region.

2023-10-19 13:35 GMT

Following the hospital attack in Gaza, India called for strict adherence to international humanitarian law. External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi expressed India's concern over civilian casualties and urged strict compliance with humanitarian laws during his media briefing. India strongly condemned the attack and insisted on the need for global unity in combating terrorism. 

2023-10-19 13:06 GMT

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge issued a statement saying, "The indiscriminate bombing of a hospital in Gaza and residential areas, leading to the loss of innocent lives, is unjustifiable and a severe humanitarian tragedy. The perpetrators must be held accountable. On October 8th, 2023, the Indian National Congress condemned Hamas' brutal attacks on Israel. Israel's military actions in civilian areas, including the siege of Gaza Strip and bombings, are also unacceptable."

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