Rishi Sunak meets King of Jordan at Downing Street as Gaza offensive looms

Rishi Sunak is meeting King Abdullah of Jordan amid growing concern about the fate of Palestinians in Gaza as an Israeli invasion looms.

The King has embarked on a European tour to “rally international support to stop the war on Gaza”, his office said, with stops also expected in Italy, Germany and France.

It comes after the monarch met US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Friday.

“I wish I was seeing you under better circumstances. I am sure we will have the opportunity to discuss the challenges that we are all facing,” the Jordanian ruler had said ahead of the meeting at No 10.

Mr Sunak and King Abdullah discussed “diplomatic efforts to prevent further escalation in the wider Middle East”, Downing Street said.

The expected assault by Israel comes more than a week after Hamas militants launched a deadly assault on the country.

In a readout of the meeting, a Downing Street spokesperson said: “The Prime Minister reiterated the UK’s support for Israel’s right to defend itself following last week’s terrorist attack and said Hamas’ abhorrent actions should not undermine the just cause of the Palestinian people.

“They discussed diplomatic efforts to prevent further escalation in the wider Middle East, working with regional leaders as well as the Israeli government and the Palestinian Authority.

“The leaders also agreed on the importance of taking measures to protect civilians in Gaza, including British and Jordanian citizens caught up in the violence, as well as ensuring humanitarian aid reaches those in need.

“The Prime Minister thanked King Abdullah for Jordan’s support for British nationals wishing to leave the Occupied Palestinian Territories, and the leaders agreed to remain in close contact in the coming days and weeks.”

Foreign Secretary James Cleverly earlier stressed British backing for Israel while also urging Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the country’s military to show restraint and discipline.

The senior Cabinet minister said the UK will always raise breaches of international law, but declined to say whether Israel has crossed that line already.

Mr Cleverly said on Sunday that around 10 British people dead or missing was not an “unreasonable estimate”.

The Foreign Office urged British nationals in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories, including Gaza, to register as they UK worked with Egyptian authorities to open up the Rafah border to British and dual nationals.

The United Nations, senior EU figures and aid agencies have all expressed alarm as many Palestinians struggle to flee ahead of a “co-ordinated” offensive in the Gaza Strip involving air, ground and naval forces.

ITV News' Global Security Editor Rohit Kachroo reports from Tel Aviv

Hundreds of people gathered at a vigil in central London on Sunday to commemorate Israeli victims of the Hamas incursion into the country.

Many were draped in Israeli flags, and posters saying “bring them home” with names and faces of hostages captured by Hamas were being handed out.

It comes a day after tens of thousands of people took to the streets across the UK in a show of solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza.

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