PM Rishi Sunak delivers an address at a vigil for Israel victims in a London synagogue and warns that all those who support Hamas are responsible for their atrocities before joining France and the USA in condemning Hamas as terrorists

Rishi Sunak today expressed solidarity with the Jewish community in London in light of the ‘appalling attack’ in Israel and warned that all those who support the Hamas are responsible for their atrocities.

The Prime Minister, giving an address at a vigil for victims in a London synagogue, said how he he stands with them in ‘solidarity in Israel’s hour of need’.

‘I wanted to come here tonight to stand with you, to stand with you in this hour of grief as we mourn the victims of an utterly abhorrent act of terror,’ he said.

Mr Sunak also joined France and the USA in denouncing those standing with Hamas, calling the group ‘terrorists’.

In a joint statement, Mr Sunak, US President Joe Biden, French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni promised their ‘steadfast and united support to the State of Israel, and our unequivocal condemnation of Hamas and its appalling acts of terrorism’. 

Mr Sunak told the vigil: ‘…To stand with you in an hour of prayer as we think of those held hostage and your friends and loved ones raking refuge in bomb shelters or risking their lives on the frontline.

‘And perhaps above all, I wanted to come here tonight to stand with you in solidarity in Israel’s hour of need.

‘As the Prime Minister of this country, I am unequivocal: the people who support Hamas are fully responsible for this appalling attack. 

‘They [Hamas] are not militants. They are not freedom fighters. They are terrorists.’  

He also joined other western leaders in condemning the actions of the Hamas. They warned that ‘this is not a moment for any party hostile to Israel to exploit these attacks to seek advantage’.

‘We make clear that the terrorist actions of Hamas have no justification, no legitimacy, and must be universally condemned. There is never any justification for terrorism,’ the statement read.

‘In recent days, the world has watched in horror as Hamas terrorists massacred families in their homes, slaughtered over 200 young people enjoying a music festival, and kidnapped elderly women, children, and entire families, who are now being held as hostages.’

The leaders said they recognised the ‘legitimate aspirations of the Palestinian people’, but ‘Hamas does not represent those aspirations, and it offers nothing for the Palestinian people other than more terror and bloodshed’.

Mr Sunak was hailed as a ‘great and wonderful friend’ of Israel and the Jewish people last night as he attended the prayer service at the Finchley United Synagogue in north London.

The Prime Minister entered the synagogue wearing a kippah, a traditional Jewish headcovering, as he expressed condolences to those affected and those paying their respects. 

He also received a loud round of applause for tearing up his diary to attend.

Chief Rabbi Sir Ephraim Mirvis told the congregation: ‘Prime Minister, you are a great and wonderful friend of our Jewish community and of the State of Israel.’ 

He added that lighting up Downing Street with the flag of Israel last night had sent ‘an extraordinary message’ throughout the Jewish world.

He added: ‘No words can adequately encapsulate our feelings of being so grateful to you for being with us right now. 

‘We know you and your government, and with some exceptions – yes, there are some exceptions – but you and your government and the British people are solidly behind that which is right and fourscore against that which is wrong.’ 

Earlier today, Mr Sunak said he would work to make sure the Jewish community in Britain felt safe after the attacks in Israel. 

London’s Metropolitan Police said it would increase the number of police officers on the streets across Britain’s capital to ‘reassure and protect communities.’ 

The Greater Manchester Police force in northern England also said it had stepped up the protection of communities amid the conflict.

At least 700 people are feared to have been killed in Israel and more than 400 in Gaza, after the terrorist group launched its surprise assault – slaughtering citizens and taking hostages. 

Mr Sunak also declared his support for Israel’s ‘right to defend itself and to deter further incursions’ this evening.

‘Last night we flew the Israeli flag over Number 10 to show our solidarity with the people of Israel and our utter condemnation of the horrific violence that Hamas unleashed over the weekend,’ he said in a speech at the Future Resilience Forum, according to his office.

‘On Saturday morning terrorists crossed into Israel intent on murder and kidnap. Whole families were killed. Women, children and the elderly were taken hostage.

‘Innocent teenagers at a festival of peace were gunned down in cold blood and the sickening evidence posted online. 

‘It is inhuman – and it will not stand. Terrorism will not prevail. Israel has the absolute right to defend itself and to deter further incursions.’

He also issued a message to the Jewish communities in the UK, saying ‘I am with you’. The Prime Minister also affirmed that the Government is ‘taking the necessary steps to ensure that you feel safe’.

It comes as hundreds of protesters have filled the streets outside the Israeli Embassy in London chanting ‘free Palestine’ and lighting flares.

There were reports of fireworks being launched on Kensington high street and people unable to push through heaving crowds, as parts of the Israel embassy were boarded up.

Hundreds gathered in Kensington on Monday afternoon, chanting ‘Israel is a terrorist state’ and ‘Allahu akhbar’ [God is the greatest], with stalls set up touting ‘Free Palestine’ merchandise in the popular shopping district.

Earlier in the evening, large groups of police officers watched on as placards calling for Israel to ‘end the occupation’ were waved, but their presence appeared to subside as the busy area was taken over by a wave of protesters.

Meanwhile, Israelis have gathered outside Downing Street to hold a vigil for the victims and hostages taken by Hamas after the terror group launched its violent assault over the Gaza border on Saturday.

One pro-Palestine protester, Mosibur Rahman Ullah, 53, said the situation in Gaza has ‘reached boiling point’ after ’75 years of Israeli oppression’ of Palestinians.

In reference to Hamas militant’s acts of terror on members of the Israeli population, he said: ‘Sometimes you have to fight, freedom isn’t won just by words.’

He added that ‘the diplomatic means at the hands of Palestinians just hasn’t worked, so these are the steps they have had to take’.

One protester condemned Hamas’ attack, saying ‘what we want is peace’, but said that ‘what has been happening with Palestine throughout so, so many years cannot continue to happen. It is just a retaliation [to that].’ 

As the evening went on, anger turned into jubilation among some of the pro-Palestine protesters, with music blaring and flags waving.

It comes as Suella Braverman urged police forces across the country to step up patrols to prevent anti-Jewish disorder and violence.

‘We are doing everything we can to keep people safe and ensure they feel reassured by our presence,’ Manchester Superintendent Rachael Harrison said in a statement. 

Boards of wood and gates were placed around the entrance to the Israeli embassy earlier on Monday.

Palestine Solidarity Campaign, one of the groups behind the demonstration, said in a statement: ‘The offensive launched from Gaza can only be understood in the context of Israel’s ongoing, decades long, military occupation and colonisation of Palestinian land and imposition of a system of oppression that meets the legal definition of apartheid.

‘This is the context in which we need to understand the cycle of violence. If violence is to end, both that of the oppressor and the oppressed, then we must all take action to end the root cause – Israeli apartheid and oppression of Palestinians.’

Israel has been rocked by the attacks that started on Saturday when fighters from the Islamist group Hamas killed hundreds of Israelis and abducted dozens, the deadliest such incursion in decades, prompting Israel to retaliate by pounding the Palestinian enclave of Gaza.

The Israeli military said it had called up 300,000 reservists and was imposing a total blockade of the Gaza Strip, signalling it could be planning a major ground assault.

At least 700 people are feared to have been killed in Israel and more than 400 in Gaza, after the terrorist group launched its surprise assault – slaughtering citizens and taking hostages.

Among the dead was 20-year-old Nathanel Young, a Briton serving in the Israeli Defence Services who died at the Gaza border on Saturday.

In Britain, the Jewish advisory body, the Community Security Trust (CST), said in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, that it had seen incidents of what it called ‘racist anti-Semitism against Jewish people’ since Saturday.

Israel has intensified its bombardment of the Gaza Strip after declaring war and vowing to destroy the ‘military and governing capabilities’ of Hamas. 

Mr Sunak said that the UK was in ‘close dialogue’ with Israel over any support it needed, after holding a phone call with Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday.

‘We already have a very long-standing relationship with Israel, we’re one of their strongest allies.

‘We’ve provided in the past the kinds of equipment that they’ve used to defend themselves over the past couple of days.

‘And as I said to the Prime Minister, we will continue to provide – whether that’s diplomatic, intelligence or security support – as they need.

‘I’m chairing a Cobra with my ministerial colleagues this afternoon, when we’ll continue to discuss the situation, but we’re in close dialogue with our Israeli counterparts’, he told a business event in Newark, Nottinghamshire.

Two other UK nationals – 26-year-old Jake Marlowe, who went to the same London school as Mr Young, and photographer Dan Darlington – are believed to be missing.

The Government is helping the families of several individuals in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories, it is understood.

The Foreign Office has advised against all but essential travel to the region due to the conflict.

Mr Sunak said it is a ‘complex’ situation, as he acknowledged many will have concerns about family members caught up in the conflict.

‘I know it will be an anxious time for many families who have loved ones in the region,’ he said.

‘It’s a quite complex situation on the ground, so we are working very closely with our Israeli counterparts to establish the status of any British nationals on the ground.

‘That work is under way as we speak.’

Mr Young, a former pupil at JFS Jewish School in north London, died after a surprise attack by Palestinian militants caught Israel off-guard on a major holiday.

His loved ones said they are ‘heartbroken’, while the father of Mr Darlington said he believes his son, who was visiting from his home in Berlin, Germany, is missing.

Mr Marlowe was reported missing while providing security at a music festival near Kibbutz Re’im, close to the Gaza border.

It comes as Communities minister Lee Rowley warned any potential protesters not to ‘glorify’ the violence of Hamas.

On Monday, Labour’s shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves also condemned the attack

She told Times Radio: ‘Israel has been attacked by terrorists. It has every right to defend itself, get its hostages back and protect its citizens.’

Israel’s defence minister has ordered a ‘complete siege’ on the Gaza Strip, saying authorities will cut electricity and block the entry of food and fuel.

Authorities in Israel are said to be in ‘control’ of the border communities, with no fighting going on as of mid-morning on Monday.

All UK Government buildings were asked to light up in Israeli blue and white on Sunday evening, with the country’s flag projected on to the outside of No 10 in a show of support.