Mr Healey said Hamas's raid into Israel was the "very darkest day" (Picture: PA) — Mr Healey said 7 October 2023 – when Hamas carried out its mass attack on Israel – was the "very darkest day" (Picture: PA)

Politics

Healey makes new push for peace on anniversary of Hamas attack on Israel

Defence Secretary John Healey has used the first anniversary of the Hamas attack on Israel to reaffirm the UK's commitment to see all sides pull back from the fighting and prevent any further escalation of the conflict.

The Israel-Hamas war began when Hamas-led militant groups launched a surprise attack on Israel on 7 October last year.

Israel retaliated by launching a bombing campaign followed by an invasion of Gaza on 27 October. Both sides have suffered thousands of casualties, mainly civilian.

The casualty toll is difficult to verify, but figures supplied by the Gaza Ministry of Health, which is run by Hamas, and the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs were updated today.

They respectively said almost 42,000 people had been killed and over 97,000 injured in Gaza, while 1,200 people had been killed and more than 14,500 injured in Israel.

British forces have been trying to help ease the burden on the civilian population by dropping aid supplies into Gaza and housing the personnel who were involved in building the floating aid pier.

Mr Healey admitted diplomacy was difficult, but said Britain was determined to "lead a push for a better peace" as it appealed for a ceasefire.

He told the BBC how he had held talks with his Israeli counterpart, Yoav Gallant.

"I've said to him that Israel must do more to reduce civilian casualties in Gaza," Mr Healey explained.

"The level of those civilian deaths has been intolerable – but we're also recognising the right of Israel to be able to defend itself against these terror attacks and against Iran as a country that is sponsoring this terror across the Middle East.

"And yes, of course, diplomacy is difficult. There are setbacks.

"But we are determined that we will continue because that in the end is the only way to bring an end to fighting and an end to the anguish that we mark today."

Mr Healey also spoke of his concerns that the conflict, which has already seen Hezbollah in Lebanon and Houthi militants in Yemen get involved, could spread even wider.

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He said: "In this memory of the very darkest day a year ago, of the most bleak year for Palestinians and the wider Middle East, and now also in the face of the risk of a wider escalation and a wider war, our determination to maintain our diplomatic efforts, the work in meetings, visits, discussion with allies and with those who we call on to pull back from the fighting, will continue."

Meanwhile, Foreign Secretary David Lammy said the anniversary of the 7 October attack was a "day of deep reflection and pain".

Speaking at the South Tottenham synagogue in London, he said: "This is a painful day for the Jewish community across this country and across the diaspora.

"It is... the worst attack on the Jewish community since the Holocaust.

"And of course, thinking about the many hostages that are still held in Gaza and their loved ones and their pain."