British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has concluded his diplomatic tour of the Middle East, where he met with the leaders of Egypt, Palestine, Israel and Saudi Arabia. His visit came amid the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas, which has killed hundreds of civilians and displaced thousands more in Gaza.
Sunak’s first stop was Cairo, where he met with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas on Friday. He expressed his condolences for the loss of civilian lives in Gaza and stressed the need to avoid a wider regional conflict. He also praised Egypt’s role in mediating a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, and announced that Britain would provide humanitarian aid to Gaza through the Rafah crossing, which Egypt controls.
Sunak then traveled to Jerusalem, where he met with Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett and President Isaac Herzog on Thursday. He reaffirmed Britain’s support for Israel’s right to self-defense and urged Israel to take steps to protect civilians and civilian infrastructure. He also discussed the issue of hostages taken by Hamas, including two British citizens, and called for their immediate release.
Sunak’s final destination was Riyadh, where he met with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on Wednesday. He encouraged the crown prince to use Saudi Arabia’s leadership in the region to support stability and peace. He also raised the issue of human rights and the case of Jamal Khashoggi, the Saudi journalist who was killed by Saudi agents in Istanbul in 2018.
Sunak’s tour was seen as an attempt to boost Britain’s influence and trade in the Middle East after leaving the European Union. It was also a test of his diplomatic skills as he faces increasing speculation about his ambitions to succeed Boris Johnson as prime minister.
Sunak said he was pleased with the outcome of his tour and hoped that it would contribute to a lasting solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. He said he was optimistic that the region could overcome its challenges and achieve prosperity and security for its people.
Source: [Reuters]
