'Israel has a right to defend itself!' Sunak slaps down SNP over calls for ceasefire
Rishi Sunak hit back at the SNP after they called for an immediate cease-fire in Israel and Palestine
PA
Rishi Sunak hit back at the SNP after they called for an immediate cease-fire in Israel and Palestine.
Speaking at Prime Minister's Questions, Sunak said "Israel has a right to defend itself".
WATCH NOW: Stephen Flynn calls for an immediate ceasefire
The SNP's Westminster leader Stephen Flynn told the Commons: “Can I ask the Prime Minister, will he join with us on these benches and call for an immediate ceasefire in the region?”
The Prime Minister responded: "Mr Speaker, we believe that Israel does have a right to defend itself, to protect its people and to act against terrorism and ensure that the awful attack that we've seen from Hamas cannot happen again."
He added: "Unlike Hamas, the Israelis and their President have made it clear that their armed forces will operate within international law and we will continue to urge the Israelis to take every precaution to avoid harming civilians.
Sunak also told MPs at PMQs that he will consider the immediate cancellation of visas of foreign nationals who promote anti-Semitism or other hate crimes.
He said the UK has the "power to cancel a person’s presence in the UK if it is not conducive to the public good", warning: "We will not tolerate this hatred."
There has been a significant increase in anti-Semitic hatred since the escalation of the war in Israel after terrorist organisation Hamas launched an attack last week.
Hamas took hundreds of Israeli hostages in its attack. Sunak told the House of Commons that the UK Government is "working round the clock” with partners and allies to secure their freedom.
Addressing the situation, Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer asked: “The terrible news last night came as we are still mourning the terrorist attack on Israel last week.
"Jews taken hostage, mutilated, slaughtered. And yesterday I met the families of some of the British hostages held by Hamas. Every minute of every hour of every day, they hope for good news but fear the worst.”
He added: “Israel has a right, a duty to defend itself from Hamas, keep its people safe and bring hostages home but isn’t it clear that if Hamas had a single concern for human life, a single concern for the safety of the Palestinian people, that they would never have taken these hostages, and they should release them immediately?”
Responding, Sunak said: “Our thoughts are rightly with those who have been taken hostage and their families”.
He added: “I’ll be meeting with some of the families and offering them all the support of the British Government to get their relatives home. We are working round the clock with our partners and allies to secure their freedom.”
Sunak also said he spoke with the Emir of Qatar on Tuesday, telling the Commons: “The Qatari government is taking a lead and working intensely to help release hostages using their contacts in the region and we are working very closely with them to ensure the safe return of the British hostages."
Sunak and Starmer presented a united front at PMQs today, standing in solidarity against the atrocities in Israel and Gaza.
In his concluding remarks, Starmer said: “Does the Prime Minister agree that during this grave crisis this House must strive to speak with one voice in condemnation of terror, in support of Israel’s right to self-defence and for the dignity of all human life that cannot be protected without humanitarian access to those suffering in Gaza and the constant maintenance of the rule of international law?”
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS:
Sunak and Starmer presented a united front at PMQs today, standing in solidarity against the atrocities in Israel and Gaza
PA
Sunak replied: “I agree. We will in this House speak with one voice in condemning Hamas for perpetrating a shockingly brutal terrorist attack and causing untold suffering on many, and as (Sir Keir) said we stand united in supporting Israel’s right to defend itself, to protect its people and to act against terrorism.
“Unlike Hamas, the Israeli president has made it very clear that their armed forces will operate in accordance with international law and we will continue to urge the Israelis to take every precaution to avoid harming civilians whilst remembering, importantly, in this House that it is Hamas that is cruelly embedding itself in civilian populations.”