To rescue Britons stranded in the Gaza warzone, the PM dispatches the Border Force to Egypt.Prior to the invasion, some 200 British people requested assistance from the Foreign Office.
To assist in evacuating British citizens who are still stuck in Gaza, Rishi Sunak has dispatched Border Force teams to Egypt.
In order to provide help to the trapped Palestinians, the prime minister is also advocating for a ceasefire in the hostilities between Israel and Hamas.
A little over 200 British nationals have asked for assistance from the Foreign Office ahead of Israel’s anticipated invasion of Gaza, according to Mr. Sunak.
The only border crossing in the region that is not under Israeli control is the Rafah crossing, which connects Egypt with Gaza.
Although Israel has consented to let aid pass through the border, it is still closed to the public.
According to reports, Cairo has attributed the closure of the Rafah border post on Israeli assaults.
Chief Rabbi said of British Jews, this is their worst worry since 1945.
The Chief Rabbi of the Commonwealth has stated that the terror that the Jewish community in Britain is feeling is something “we haven’t had since 1945.”
Ephraim Mirvis made the historically rare statement that the trauma from the Hamas terrorist strikes “runs very deep.”
He cautioned that Jews were experiencing a level of terror not seen since the conclusion of World War II as a result of the surge in anti-Semitism.
That hurt is so deep, the Chief Rabbi said to ITV News.
I believe that not since 1945 has the Jewish community experienced the level of fear that it does now.
And since then, we have faced numerous difficulties.
It is undeniably evident at the moment, and a great number of good people in our nation identify strongly with that pain, for which we are grateful.
He continued, “There is a lot of anxiety and seeing so many thousands of people on the streets openly supporting the Hamas terrorists certainly has caused a lot of anxiety within our community.”
He was speaking to the recent wave of pro-Palestinian protests in the UK.
“We are fortunate to have our government and police forces’ full support at this time.”
“It would be helpful if some parts of the media gave a more balanced, accurate, and fair assessment and presentation of what is happening,” the Chief Rabbi continued.
Additionally, we stand to gain more from some of our allies who have up until now maintained a silent and deafening silence, as well as from increased efforts to guarantee that those who encourage evil on Britain’s streets will be dealt with in a manner befitting of such a magnificent nation as ours.
It follows intense backlash against the BBC for neglecting to designate Hamas as a terrorist organisation.
Parts of Gaza have been decimated by air attacks, and the UN has issued a warning that the enclave may soon run out of fuel.
Mr. Sunak reiterated his demands yesterday for “specific pauses” or brief interruptions in the fighting that would allow hostages and British citizens to be released.
It is estimated that there are less than five Britons among the hostages, and authorities worry that some of the people who went missing may have died.
However, as Israel carries out airstrikes and raids in its retaliation against Hamas, a great number of people are still stuck in Gaza.
‘In terms of evacuating nationals from Gaza, it’s a delicate scenario,’ Mr. Sunak stated at a London press conference.
The Foreign Office maintains contact with about 200 of them.
We have been for some time, and it is clear from all of my interactions with leaders in the region—especially in Egypt and Israel—that this is a characteristic of our relationship.
We can’t wait to be able to take them outside and bring them back home.
According to the prime minister, the government has “pre-positioned Border Force teams to Egypt so that we’re ready to get them and bring them back” in the event that there is a chance that its citizens will attempt to enter the Rafah border.
“We stand ready to do that,” he continued, adding that “I’ve had that reassurance from the Egyptian president that they will work with us on that.”
However, given the complexity of the situation there and the surrounding security, we are unable to take fast action.
But we’ll be prepared to act swiftly when the time comes.
We’ll exert every effort to free our citizens.
Israel’s airstrikes have claimed thousands of Palestinian lives, and if a full-scale invasion is undertaken with the intention of overthrowing Hamas, the death toll might be considerably higher.
The government has been urged to demand an end to the violence by more than 80 MPs.
A spokeswoman for the prime minister countered that a ceasefire would ‘only help Hamas’.
When asked how long a humanitarian ‘pause’ should endure, deputy prime minister Oliver Dowden declined to comment.
Yesterday, he presided over an emergency Cobra meeting with ministries and bureaucrats.
Delivering aid into Gaza, he said, would ‘depend on the circumstances on the ground’.
“To enable that aid to be transferred safely into Gaza, it would depend on the circumstances on the ground,” he said to Times Radio, using the Rafah border as an example.
However, our Prime Minister has undoubtedly pushed for it, and yesterday the Defence Secretary spoke with his Israeli counterpart about it.
The government’s announcement that British nationals escaping Gaza, Israel, Lebanon, or the Palestinian territories would not have to undergo residence exams and would be eligible for benefits sooner is what prompted the Border Force expedition.
Thanks to the amendments, British citizens escaping the violence will have immediate access to social housing and help for homelessness.
‘We’ve been working rapidly to ensure British people travelling from Israel, the Occupied Palestinian Territories, and Lebanon can receive the support and security they need during a moment of horrific conflict,’ stated Work and Pensions Secretary Mel Stride.
The measures that come into effect today will expedite the process of obtaining benefits, thereby guaranteeing that individuals who qualify can obtain the necessary assistance, as the UK continues to intensify its response to the rapidly evolving situation in the region.
Whether or whether they are a British citizen, a person must typically remain in the UK for three months in order to be eligible for a number of benefits.