British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak arrived today at Tel Aviv, according to an eyewitness cited by Reuters, on a visit during which he will meet with his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu and President Isaac Herzog. Sunak will express condolences for the October 7 Palestinian Hamas attack on Israel, his office said, and warn against further escalation of the conflict.

“Above all, I am 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 UK and I stand by you.’

In an early statement, he said Tuesday’s Gaza hospital explosion that caused mass Palestinian casualties should be “a watershed moment for leaders in the region and around the world to come together to avoid a further dangerous escalation of the conflict.” adding that Britain will be at the “frontline of this effort”.

Sunak will also call for the border crossing to be opened to allow humanitarian aid into Gaza from Egypt as soon as possible and allow British nationals trapped in Gaza to leave.

“Every civilian death is a tragedy. And too many lives were lost after the horrific act of terrorism by Hamas,” Sunak said.

At least seven Britons have been killed and nine others are missing after the Hamas attack, a Sunak spokesman said yesterday, Wednesday.

At the same time, British Foreign Secretary James Cleverley, who visited Israel last week, will travel in the next three days to Egypt, Turkey and Qatar where he will meet with high-ranking officials and discuss the conflict and finding a peaceful solution.