Six months since Oct. 7, British PM Sunak says ‘terrible’ Israel-Hamas war ‘must end’

LONDON — British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak says the “terrible” war between Israel and Hamas “must end,” six months since the terror group’s shock onslaught that initiated the fighting.

“We continue to stand by Israel’s right to defeat the threat from Hamas terrorists and defend their security. But the whole of the UK is shocked by the bloodshed,” he says in a statement.

“This terrible conflict must end. The hostages must be released. The aid –- which we have been straining every sinew to deliver by land, air and sea -– must be flooded in,” he adds.

The bloodiest-ever Gaza war began on October 7 with an unprecedented Hamas-led attack from Gaza by Palestinian terrorists who killed some 1,200 people, mostly civilians. The terrorists also took 253 hostages, about 130 of whom remain in Gaza, including over 30 that the Israeli army says are dead.

“Today marks six months since the terrorist outrage of 7th October –- the most appalling attack in Israel’s history, the worst loss of Jewish life since the Second World War,” Sunak says.

“Six months later, Israeli wounds are still unhealed. Families still mourn and hostages are still held by Hamas.”

Sunak says the children of Gaza needed a “humanitarian pause immediately, leading to a long-term sustainable ceasefire.”

“That is the fastest way to get hostages out and aid in, and to stop the fighting and loss of life.