Transport Minister of the United Kingdom, Mark Harper, has stated that it is currently not the right time to accept refugees from the Gaza Strip and offer them asylum in the country. This was reported by RIA Novosti.
Authorities in Scotland have called on the British government to work on a refugee resettlement program. They have expressed readiness to provide shelter and medical assistance to refugees in hospitals.
However, Harper told Sky News that he believes it is not appropriate to resort to refugee resettlement at this stage. He believes that support should be provided to the residents in the conflict region first. The Minister concluded that Britain will continue to contribute its efforts.
On October 7, Hamas forces launched thousands of rockets into Israeli territory and declared the beginning of the “Flood of Al-Aqsa” operation. Thousands of militants infiltrated Israeli territory, seizing dozens of military vehicles and over a hundred hostages. Against this backdrop, Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu announced that the country is in a state of war.
The counter-operation by the Israel Defense Forces is named “Iron Swords,” with the destruction of Hamas being one of its objectives. The Israeli Air Force has carried out strikes on hundreds of Hamas targets in the Gaza Strip, and the Israeli National Security Council has decided to halt the supply of water, food, goods, electricity, and fuel to the sector. On October 13, Israel informed the United Nations that 1.1 million Palestinians must evacuate to the south of Gaza within 24 hours in preparation for a ground operation.
Previously, the media had cited the reason for the numerous postponements of Israel’s ground operation in the Gaza Strip.
