UK Working With Allies To "Prevent Further Bloodshed" In Middle East

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has said that while the UK government would not support Israel taking retaliatory actions against Iran after it was hit with missile strikes over the weekend, the UK would continue to work with allies to prevent “further bloodshed.”

The UK helped Israel and its other allies to largely intercept an attack by hundreds of drones and missiles on Saturday night. Having met with other G7 leaders on Sunday, Sunak said they were united in condemning the “reckless and dangerous” attack by Iran’s “despotic regime” – which the prime minister said was “emblematic of the dangers that we face today”.

“Although the Middle East is thousands of miles away, it has a direct effect on our security and prosperity and home,” he told the House of Commons in a statement on Monday afternoon.

“So we are working urgently with our allies to de-escalate the situation and prevent further bloodshed. We want to see calmer heads prevail, and we're directing all our diplomatic efforts to that end.”

Sunak confirmed he will be speaking to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu “to express our solidarity with Israel in the face of this attack, and to discuss how we can prevent further escalation.” That call is not expected to take place today, PoliticsHome understands.

Echoing comments made by Foreign Secretary David Cameron, Sunak said that “all sides must show restraint” and that the UK would not condone any retaliatory action by Israel against Iran in the aftermath of the missile attacks. 

The prime minister also stated that the attacks would not change the UK government’s position on Gaza and the importance of humanitarian aid reaching Palestinians.

“The appalling toll on civilians continues to grow,” he said.

“The hunger, the