PM Rishi Sunak vowed to stand with Israel against "evil" as he arrived In Israel amid growing fears the conflict in Gaza will spiral into an all-out war in the Middle East.

The Prime Minister met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Isaac Herzog and urged leaders to "avoid further dangerous escalation" as "too many lives have been lost."

The PM told his Israeli counterpart as they embraced: "Hello my friend, very good to see you."

During his meeting with the Israeli President, Mr Sunak stressed "the imperative need to avoid further escalation of violence in the region."

He said: "We will stand with you in solidarity with your people and your right to defend yourself, to bring security back to your country to your people, to ensure the safe return of the hostages that have been taken.

"Palestinians are victims of what Hamas has done. It's important that we continue to provide humanitarian access."

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In response, the Israeli President thanked Mr Sunak and noted that it was clear who are the "real friends of Israel."

He posted on X: "During such difficult days, we see clearly who are the true friends of the State of Israel.

"Thank you Prime Minister of the United Kingdom@RishiSunak for coming to Israel and for your support and firm stand by the Israeli people.

"It is time to express a clear moral voice – this is a battle for the values of all humanity.

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It comes as

• Israel continues to prepare for a possible full-scale invasion of Gaza after the October 7 massacre by Hamas
• Joe Biden arrived in Israel yesterday and pledged his support for them against terror group Hamas
• US intelligence believe an explosion at a Gazan hospital that allegedly killed hundreds was caused by terrorists
• Fury is growing over the spread of Hamas "propaganda" in the West after Israel was wrongly accused of the blast
• Atrocities are still being discovered – including a massacre scene at a nursery in Kibbutz Be’eri
• Fears are growing the conflict could spiral into a large regional war drawing in Iran and Hezbollah
• 7 Brits have been killed and 9 are feared to being held as hostages in Gaza

"The world needs to understand that if we do not prevent Hamas and other terrorist organizations from carrying out murderous and criminal attacks – they will not stop with Israel."

The PM was pictured embracing Israelis whose families have been taken hostage as he described it as "a parent’s worst nightmare."

He said in another X post: "To have a child taken from you is a parent’s worst nightmare.

"This morning I heard from families going through this unbearable agony.

"Working with our partners, we’re determined to secure the release of the hostages taken by Hamas terrorists."

The PM told reporters after landing at Ben Gurion International Airport: "Above all, I'm here to express my solidarity with the
Israeli people.

"You have suffered an unspeakable, horrific act of terrorism and I want you to know that the United Kingdom and I stand with you."

Mr Sunak also expressed his support in a post on X: "I am in Israel, a nation in grief.

"I grieve with you and stand with you against the evil that is terrorism. Today, and always."

Mr Sunak's visit comes after US President Joe Biden visited the wartorn country yesterday.

The US President said he was "sad and outraged" by the al-Ahli Hospital blast that killed hundreds but said it appears to have been done "by the other team."

He urged Israel not to be "consumed by" rage and to avoid making the same "mistakes" that the US did after September 11.

Mr Sunak is also set to travel to a number of regional capitals in a bid to prevent tensions from escalating further.

At least eight British nationals have been killed and at least nine are missing since the attack on Israel, Sunak's spokesperson confirmed on Wednesday.

The IDF announced today there is a total of 203 people being kept hostage by Hamas.

Ahead of his trip, the Prime Minister said: "Every civilian death is a tragedy. And too many lives have been lost following Hamas's horrific act of terror.

"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."

Alongside Sunak's visit, British Foreign Secretary James Cleverly, who visited Israel last week, will travel to Egypt, Turkey and Qatar over the next three days to discuss the conflict and seek a peaceful resolution, his office said.

Mr Cleverly said: "It is in no one's interests – neither Israeli, Palestinian nor the wider Middle East – for others to be drawn into this conflict.

"I am meeting counterparts from influential states in the region to push for calm and stability, facilitate humanitarian access into Gaza and work together to secure the release of hostages."

Cleverly will meet with senior leaders there to discuss efforts to prevent the conflict from spreading, the urgent need to open the Rafah crossing with Egypt to let aid reach those who need it and for Hamas to release hostages, Britain said.

Both sides blamed each other for the catastrophic blast at the Al-Ahli Hospital that reportedly killed hundreds of people.

Horror footage from the hospital showed the blaze engulfing the building, with the hospital's grounds littered with bodies, many of them young children. 

Israeli military forces released evidence – including drone footage and audio from a wiretapped phone call which it claims proves a terrorist group caused the explosion at the al-Ahli Hospital.

US and UK intelligence appears to suggest Israel was not responsible for the explosion.

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However, satellite images from the site, appear to reveal minimal damage to the hospital itself – despite claims the blast left at least 500 dead.

Meanwhile, horror images revealed abloodstained nursery that was devastated by Hamas terrorists in the horrific attack on Israel’s Be’eri Kibbutz.

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