• Wednesday, February 26, 2025

HEADLINE STORY

Israel has absolute right to defend itself, says Sunak as Hamas launches massive rocket attacks

A number of British politicians and western leaders backed Israel in the conflict as its prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu said ‘we are at war’.

British prime minister Rishi Sunak greets his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu on the steps of 10 Downing Street in London, UK, on March 24, 2023. (Photo by ISABEL INFANTES/AFP via Getty Images)

By: Shubham Ghosh

PRIME minister Rishi Sunak on Saturday (7) threw his weight behind Israel after Hamas militants launched rocket attacks on it from the Gaza strip. He said the British government was in touch with the Israeli authorities after the extremists fired thousands of rockets in what it called a new operation.

He wrote on X that he was shocked by Hamas terrorists’ attacks against Israeli citizens.

“Israel has an absolute right to defend itself,” he wrote.

“We’re in contact with Israeli authorities, and British nationals in Israel should follow travel advice.”

Sunak’s Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu, meanwhile, said that his country was “at war”. He warned that Hamas would “pay a price that it hasn’t known until now”.

British foreign secretary James Cleverly said on social media, “The UK unequivocally condemns the horrific attacks by Hamas on Israeli civilians. The UK will always support Israel’s right to defend itself.”

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer also condemned the attacks on Israel and its citizens.

“There is no justification for this act of terror which is being perpetrated by those who seek to undermine any chance for future peace in the region. Israel has a right to defend herself,” he added.

French president Emmanuel Macron also backed Israel saying, “I express my full solidarity with the victims, their families and their loved ones.”

European Union chief Ursula von der Leyen said, “Israel has the right to defend itself against such an odious attack. This horrific violence must stop immediately. Terrorism and violence solve nothing. The EU expresses its solidarity with Israel in these difficult moments.”

Dutch prime minister Mark Rutte said: “Appalling images from Israel. Terror organisation Hamas is waging an unprecedented attack on Israel… This violence must stop; Israel has every right to defend itself.”

Netanyahu made his first address on television since the Hamas rulers of Gaza Strip launched the attack at daybreak on Saturday.

“We are at war,” Netanyahu said. “Not an ‘operation’, not a ’round’, but at war.” He also ordered the military to clear the infiltrated towns of Hamas militants that were caught in gunfights with Israeli soldiers.

Lebanon-based outfit Hezbollah lauded Hamas and called the attack a response to “Israeli crimes” and said the militants had “divine backing”.

It said its command was in contact with Hamas.

Iran has backed Hamas. “Iran supports Palestinians’ attack on Israel,” an advisor to Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei, according to a report by Reuters.

Russia and Turkey asked both sides to exercise restraint. Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan urged all parties to “act reasonably and to stay away from impulsive steps that raise tensions”.

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