Royal Navy vessels and spy planes race to Eastern Med to support Israel
Britain is deploying two Royal Navy ships, RFA Argus and RFA Lyme Bay, to the Eastern Mediterranean and will also initiate surveillance flights over Israel.
The military show of support aims to reassure ally Israel amid the current crisis.
Alongside the naval ships will be P8 surveillance aircraft, three Merlin helicopters and a company of Royal Marines.
Announcing the move Rishi Sunak said: “We must be unequivocal in making sure the types of horrific scenes we have seen this week will not be repeated. Alongside our allies, the deployment of our world class military will support efforts to ensure regional stability and prevent further escalation.
“Our military and diplomatic teams across the region will also support international partners to re-establish security and ensure humanitarian aid reaches the thousands of innocent victims of this barbaric attack from Hamas terrorists.”
Military teams in Israel and Cyprus will also be bolstered in case the situation in the region worsens.
Defence Secretary Grant Shapps said: “The monstrous terrorist attacks committed by Hamas in recent days have proven why the UK must support Israel’s absolute right to self-defence and deter malign external interference. No nation should stand alone in the face of such evil and today’s deployment will ensure Israel does not.
“The Royal Navy Task Group, RAF operations and our wider military support will be an undeniable display of the UK’s resolve to ensure Hamas’s terrorist campaign fails, whilst reminding those who seek to inflame tensions that the forces of freedom stand with the Israeli people.”
The decision comes after the British Government announced the commencement of evacuation flights.
READ MORE: Hamas ‘sliced baby out of pregnant Israeli’s womb’ while bodies of 20 kids found
Due to recent rocket attacks, options for leaving Israel have become scarce; major airlines have suspended flights, and even British Airways had to abort a landing attempt in Tel Aviv.
Approximately 60,000 British nationals are believed to be in Israel and Gaza.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has announced £3 million in extra funding to protect schools, synagogues and other Jewish community buildings in the UK in response to Hamas’ attacks in Israel.
The money will be given to the Community Security Trust (CST) after the group, which acts on the behalf of British Jews on matters of policing and racism, said it had recorded a 400 percent spike in antisemitic incidents in the UK since the weekend’s assault.
No 10 said the additional money will enable the CST to place additional guards at schools it supports and allow for additional security staff outside synagogues on Friday nights and Saturday mornings when Jews are marking the sabbath.
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Mr Sunak said: “This is now the third deadliest terror attack in the world since 1970.
“The United Kingdom must and will continue to stand in solidarity with Israel.
“At moments like this, when the Jewish people are under attack in their homeland, Jewish people everywhere can feel less safe.
“That is why we must do everything in our power to protect Jewish people everywhere in our country.
“If anything is standing in the way of keeping the Jewish community safe, we will fix it. You have our complete backing.”
It brings the total funding for Jewish community protection security for 2023-24 to £18 million.
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