In a recent statement, UK Defense Minister Grant Shapps expressed his support for Israel’s right to defend itself against Hamas attacks, stating that it would be futile to ask Israel to cease fire with the militant group. Shapps emphasized that Israel has the “right” to pursue Hamas, especially in light of the group’s killing of over 1,400 Israelis on October 7th and the abduction of more than 220 individuals who are currently being held as hostages in the Gaza Strip.
Shapps, who recently took over the role of Defense Minister from Ben Wallace, echoed the position of Rishi Sunak, who emphasized during a press conference that “the first and most important principle is that Israel has the right to defend itself in accordance with the law.”
At the same time, Sunak agreed that humanitarian aid should be delivered to the civilian population in Gaza. He confirmed that the UK Royal Air Force had dispatched a plane carrying 21 tons of supplies, including medical equipment and water filters, to the region.
On October 7th, Hamas forces launched thousands of rockets into Israeli territory, declaring the start 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 Benjamin Netanyahu declared that the country was in a state of war.
The Israeli Defense Forces’ counter-operation, named “Iron Swords,” aims to destroy Hamas. The Israeli Air Force has conducted 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 region. On October 13th, Israel informed the United Nations that 1.1 million Palestinians must evacuate to the southern part of Gaza within 24 hours in preparation for a ground operation in the area.
Earlier in the United States, the timeline for Israel’s ground operation in Gaza was revealed.
