May expresses concern about loss of Palestinian lives in meeting with Netanyahu
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The Telegraph reports that the British Prime Minister Theresa May told Israel’s Prime Minister she is “concerned” about the loss of Palestinian lives during recent clashes at the Gaza border.
During Benjamin Netanyahu’s visit to Downing Street, Mrs May said she “absolutely recognises” Israel’s right to self-defence, but called on him to take action to improve the situation.
Mrs May said: “With 100 Palestinian lives lost and a deteriorating situation in Gaza, I hope we can talk about how we can alleviate that situation and how we can ensure that we can get back to a position where we are able to find a way through to talk about a two-state solution.”
According to reports on The Times of Israel, Netanyahu told UK Prime Minister Theresa May that the dire humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip stems from the Hamas terrorist group’s desire to destroy Israel, adding that Israel was doing everything it could to minimise casualties.
“As far as Gaza is concerned, I think the problems there are rooted in the fundamental goal of Hamas to destroy Israel. We’re not witnessing peaceful protests. In addition to burning our fields, these people are being paid for and pushed by Hamas to try to break into Israel’s defenses, kill as many Israelis as they can, right next to our border, and kidnap our soldiers,” said Netanyahu.
“This is not a non-violent protest; quite the contrary,” added Netanyahu. “We are doing everything we can to both minimise casualties, and at the same time protect Israeli lives.”
The Times of Israel said that even Britain’s Foreign Minister Boris Johnson urged Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to open an independent investigation into the dozens of Palestinians killed by Israeli troops during violent protests on the Gaza border over the past several months. The foreign minister said there was “a need for Israel to carry out a transparent, independent inquiry into the loss of more than 120 Palestinian lives during the recent Gaza protests, as well as over 10,000 injuries.”
