As antisemitic incidents in the UK continue to escalate, Rishi Sunak, the United Kingdom’s Prime Minister, has vowed that the UK will do “everything in our power” to keep the Jewish community safe
This is even as he vowed that antisemitic actions would be “met with the full force of the law”.
It would be recalled that the Metropolitan Police said there had been a “massive increase” in antisemitic incidents following Hamas’ attacks on Israel nine days ago.
Later, the prime minister will address MPs on the government’s response to the unfolding crisis in the Middle East.
More than 1,400 people were killed, with up to 199 kidnapped in the unprecedented incursion.
Retaliatory strikes on Gaza have killed nearly 2,700 people and Israel is preparing to launch a ground invasion in northern Gaza intended to target Hamas.
Speaking on a visit to a north London Jewish secondary school, Mr Sunak said: “I’m determined to ensure that our Jewish community is able to feel safe on our streets, that there is no place in our society for antisemitism and we will do everything we can to stamp it out and where it happens.”
He said the government had given the police “all the tools, powers and guidance” they needed to police pro-Palestinian protests over the weekend.
The prime minister reiterated that support for Hamas, which is recognised as a terrorist organisation by the UK government, is illegal and could be punishable by up to 14 years in jail.
Mr Sunak said he had spoken to the Israeli prime minister about the need to “minimise the impact on civilians in Gaza”.
Hamas said some 400,000 of the 1.1m people in Gaza’s north have so far complied with Israel’s request that they move south.
At least 17 British nationals are missing or confirmed dead following the attacks, and Foreign Secretary James Cleverly said on Sunday that as many as 10 may be being held hostage.
The government said last week it believed up to 60,000 UK nationals are in Israel or Gaza.
Mr Sunak said ministers were “doing everything we can to provide support” to the British families who have loved ones taken hostage by Hamas.
In his statement to Parliament, the prime minister will reiterate the UK’s “total condemnation” of the attacks and set out the government’s approach to the developing crisis, his office said.
He will outline the assistance the UK is providing to Israel, efforts to support British nationals caught up in the violence, and its response to the humanitarian situation in Gaza.
Last week, he also chaired a round-table meeting with police chiefs and announced £3m in additional funding for the Community Security Trust, a charity that works to improve the security of the Jewish community.
