By Ben Kerrigan-
UK’s Foreign Secretary David Cameron has urged Israel to think with its head as well as its heart, adding that the right thing to do is not to escalate
Lord Cameron said the weekend attack which saw the country launch an unprecendeted assault against Israel using more than 170 drones, 30 cruise missiles and 120 ballistic missiles – was a “failure” which has “revealed to the world their true nature as the malign influence in the region”.
He described it as a double defeat for Iran, as he urged Benjamin Netanyahu not to retaliate.
Cameron’s remarks come amidst a backdrop of heightened hostilities between Israel and Iran, culminating in Iran’s recent attack on Israel, which ultimately proved unsuccessful.
The weekend’s assault was launched in response to a strike widely blamed on Israel upon an Iranian consular building in Syria earlier this month, which killed two Iranian generals.
It was the first direct attack from Tehran against Israel in nearly five decades.
Lord Cameron told Times Radio on Monday: “Israel has every right to respond as an independent sovereign country being attacked in this way. But I think we’re very anxious to avoid escalation and to say to our friends in Israel ‘it’s a time to think with with head as well as heart’.
Despite the failed attack, Cameron noted that Iran’s actions served to expose its true nature to the world, further complicating an already volatile situation in the region.
Addressing the pressing humanitarian crisis in Gaza, Cameron stressed that one of Westminster’s primary objectives is to ensure the delivery of aid to Gaza’s beleaguered population and to facilitate the safe return of hostages.
The humanitarian situation in Gaza has reached a critical juncture, with the United Nations reporting that almost all of Gaza’s population, totaling more than 2.3 million people, have been displaced and lack access to basic necessities such as shelter, food, and medical services.
The conflict between Israel and Hamas, which escalated following Hamas’ attack on Israel, has resulted in devastating consequences for civilians in Gaza.
More than 33,000 Palestinians have been killed in the conflict, while Gaza’s hospital system has been severely strained, described by the UN as “decimated” and lacking essential resources.
Despite recent efforts to improve access to humanitarian aid in Gaza, challenges persist. Aid agencies continue to warn that not enough supplies are reaching civilians, leading to alarming reports of malnutrition and famine, particularly in northern Gaza.
The UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has reiterated calls for a cessation of hostilities and urged Israel to allow adequate supplies of humanitarian aid into the region.
In light of these developments, Cameron has called on Israel to exercise both toughness and prudence in its response to the recent attack, emphasizing the importance of a measured approach to prevent further escalation of tensions in the region. .