By Chris Mason & Joshua Nevett
BBC Politics
Rishi Sunak has pledged to stand with Israel, as he arrived in the country ahead of meetings with Israeli leaders.
Upon landing in Tel Aviv, the UK prime minister said Israelis had suffered a “horrific act of terrorism” at the hands of Hamas earlier this month.
Mr Sunak will meet Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu and President Isaac Herzog later as part of a two-day visit to the region.
He will also use the trip to press for humanitarian aid in Gaza.
The visit comes right after US President Biden’s, as world leaders step up efforts to prevent the conflict with Hamas spilling into the wider region.
Speaking upon arrival, Mr Sunak told reporters he hoped for “productive” meeting with Israel’s leaders.
“Above all, I’m here to express my solidarity with the Israeli people,” he added.
“You have suffered an unspeakable, horrific act of terrorism and I want you to know that the United Kingdom and I stand with you”.
He is due to meet Mr Netanyahu and Mr Herzog later and, among other things, offer his condolences for the civilians killed so far during the war. He will then go on to visit other regional capitals.
The trip, which follows German Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s on Tuesday and Mr Biden’s 24 hours later, suggests a united front between the Western leaders.
They are part of what is known diplomatically as the Quint – a group made up of the US, UK, Germany, France and Italy – the leaders of which spoke shortly after Hamas’s attack on Israel earlier this month.
French President Emmanuel Macron will be the next to visit Israel – he is expected in the coming days.
Those around Mr Sunak have said his visit will focus on physically showing solidarity with Israel, pressing for humanitarian aid to reach people in Gaza and emphasising face to face the need for Israel’s approach to a ground invasion to be “measured and calm.”
Mr Biden’s visit was overshadowed by a deadly blast at a hospital in Gaza City on Tuesday.
He said the blast appeared to have been caused by a failed rocket launched by Palestinian militants, backing Israel’s account of the incident.
But Palestinian officials said an Israeli air strike hit the hospital.
At Prime Minister’s Questions on Wednesday, Mr Sunak said British intelligence services were working to establish who was behind the blast, telling MPs not to “rush to judgment”.
In a later statement, Mr Sunak said: “The attack on Al-Ahli Hospital should be a watershed moment for leaders in the region and across the world to come together to avoid further dangerous escalation of conflict.
“I will ensure the UK is at the forefront of this effort.”
The remainder of the prime minister’s trip remains uncertain – a swirl of security and diplomatic moving parts means his precise itinerary is in flux.
More on Israel-Gaza war
On the eve of Mr Sunak’s trip, hundreds of protesters attended a vigil outside Downing Street in London for those killed in the hospital blast.
Elsewhere in the capital, King Charles made an impassioned plea for religious tolerance and mutual respect, against the background of “international turmoil” in Israel and Gaza.
The prime minister’s trip comes after Israeli warnings of a ground offensive in Gaza, where there is concern over the humanitarian situation.
Israeli warplanes and artillery have been bombarding Gaza since more than 1,400 people were killed in the unprecedented Hamas attack on Israel on 7 October.
More than 3,000 people have been killed in numerous air strikes against Gaza by the Israeli military.
Since Hamas’s attacks, Israel has blocked fuel, water, food and medical supplies from entering the territory and is demanding the release of scores of hostages taken into Gaza by Hamas.
More than a million people have been displaced inside Gaza, which is one of the world’s most densely populated territories, where supplies of essentials are in short supply.
President Biden said an agreement had been reached with Israel to allow humanitarian aid to move from Egypt into Gaza. But Israel said it would not allow any aid to pass through its own territory until hostages being held by Hamas are released.
Mr Sunak said the UK was working “round the clock” to free hostages taken by Hamas.
At least seven British nationals have been confirmed dead following the attack on Israel. The UK government said nine more UK nationals remained missing.
Meanwhile, Foreign Secretary James Cleverly has met his Egyptian counterpart during his own trip to the Middle East.
The Egyptian Foreign Ministry said they had discussed international efforts to avoid the conflict spreading, and the delivery of aid into Gaza. Mr Cleverly will also meet leaders in Turkey and Qatar in the coming days.
