Sunak blasts 'disgusting' surge in anti-Semitism after Hamas attacks on Israel

13 October 2023 , 11:54

749     0

Police have increased patrols in London's Jewish communities following the attacks on Israel by Hamas (Image: Getty Images)

Rishi Sunak today blasted a "disgusting" rise in anti-Semitic incidents following Hamas’ terror attack on Israel.

The Prime Minister has authorised £3million for the Community Security Trust, which provides guards at various Jewish sites such as schools and synagogues in Britain. Speaking a Joint Expeditionary Force summit in Gotland, Sweden, the Conservative leader said: "Yesterday I chaired a meeting of police chiefs in Downing Street, together with the Community Security Trust, to specifically make sure that everybody in our Jewish communities can feel safe.

“There's been a, quite frankly, disgusting rise in antisemitic incidents over the past few days. That's not right. We have provided extra funding to the Community Security Trust to make sure that Jewish institutions - whether that's synagogue or schools - have all the protection they need and the police have all the support that they need to ensure that our streets are safe for people from all communities, because we will absolutely not tolerate people inciting hatred, or violence, or racist activity, intimidating or threatening behaviour will not be tolerated. It will be met with the full force of the law."

Rishi Sunak met northern European allies in Sweden as the conflict in Israel and Palestine spiralled (Anders Wiklund/EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock)

He said the UK was working to provide support after Defence Secretary Grant Shapps earlier admitted "it seems very likely" there are British hostages in Gaza. "It is a complex situation on the ground and tragically British people have lost their lives, and several are also missing,” confirmed the PM. "We are working very closely with the Israeli authorities and in contact with families to provide all the possible support that we can. We are increasing our military teams across the region and making sure that we are doing everything we can to ensure the security of British citizens."

He ordered two Royal Fleet Auxiliary ships, the hospital vessel Argus and the landing ship dock Lyme Bay to the eastern Mediterranean following the attacks which left at least 1,200 Israelis dead. Palestinians are braced for the Israeli Defence Forces to launch a ground invasion of Gaza within hours.

Out of touch Rishi Sunak doesn't regularly read papers or online news sites

Mr Sunak said: "We're monitoring the situation very closely. We have formally updated our travel advice and, of course, humanitarian concerns and protection of civilians are very important, and this is something that I spoke to (Israeli) Prime Minister (Benjamin) Netanyahu about late last night. It's also why we've moved Royal Navy assets into the Mediterranean over the coming week and they will be able to provide humanitarian support if required."

The Prime Minister has said concerns over the safety of civilians in the Israel-Gaza conflict was "paramount in our minds".

"Of course we should always - and we are always - having concerns of civilians paramount in our minds,” he said. "It is something I've discussed with Prime Minister Netanyahu myself and underlined with what the secretary of state from the United States and the president have said, that of course Israel should take every possible precaution to protect civilians as they exercise their rightful ability to defend themselves against attacks like this."

Asked whether UK moral support would come "regardless of what Israel does", Mr Sunak replied: "It is important to remember why we are in this very difficult situation. That is because Hamas, a proscribed terrorism organisation, committed an appalling act of barbarity and has killed over 1,000 Israelis, including women and children, in scenes that are quite frankly horrific and we haven't seen in decades. It is unequivocally wrong and there is no moral ambiguity about that. Israel has every right to defend itself and take the action that is necessary to ensure the protection and security of its citizens, and that nothing like this can ever happen again."

Ben Glaze