Britain 'unequivocally' condemns Hamas attack on Israel
British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak speaks on stage at Britain's Conservative Party's annual conference in Manchester, Britain, October 4, 2023. REUTERS/Toby Melville/File Photo Acquire Licensing Rights
LONDON, Oct 7 (Reuters) - Britain "unequivocally condemns" a surprise attack by Palestinian Islamist group Hamas on Israel on Saturday, Foreign Secretary James Cleverly said.
"The UK unequivocally condemns the horrific attacks by Hamas on Israeli civilians. The UK will always support Israel's right to defend itself," Cleverly said in a post on social media.
British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said he was shocked by the attacks.
"We're in contact with Israeli authorities, and British nationals in Israel should follow travel advice," Sunak added.
Britain, which proscribed Hamas as a terrorist organisation in 2021, already advised against all travel to Gaza and said it would keep its travel advice for Israel updated as events unfold.
Cleverly later described the attack as "unprecedented" and said Britain was calling on those involved in the conflict to put down their weapons.
"The images that I ... have seen on social media would indicate atrocities being perpetrated now quite widely across southern Israel," he told reporters.
Reporting by Kylie MacLellan; editing by Jason Neely and Ros Russell
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