ISRAEL WON’T BACK DOWN
Netanyahu: We’ll do what is necessary
BENJAMIN Netanyahu has said Israelis will “make our own decisions” after brushing off calls for restraint over Iran’s aerial assault.
UK Foreign Secretary David Cameron went to Jerusalem for crisis talks as world leaders pressed Israel to avoid triggering a regional war with retaliatory strikes for last weekend’s drones and missiles blitz.
But according to a statement released by Prime Minister Netanyahu’s office after their meeting, he told Lord Cameron: “I want to make it clear: we will make our own decisions and Israel will do everything necessary to defend itself.”
His vow came as Iran’s president, Ebrahim Raisi, warned the “tiniest invasion” would bring a “massive and harsh” response.
Lord Cameron said: “It is right to have made our views clear about what should happen next but it is clear the Israelis are making the decision to act.
“We hope they do so in a way that does as little to escalate this as possible and in a way that is smart as well as tough.
“But the real need is to refocus back on Hamas, back on the hostages, back on getting the aid in, back on getting a pause in the conflict in Gaza.”
The Foreign Secretary met other senior Israeli figures, including President Isaac Herzog, yesterday. He was also expected to visit the West Bank and Palestinian Authority PM Mohammad Mustafa before heading to a meeting of G7 foreign ministers in Italy.
Lord Cameron said he hoped the summit would result in further “co-ordinated sanctions” against Tehran, which needed to be sent “a clear and unequivocal message”.
Meanwhile, there were calls to act to prevent famine in Gaza as more aid was dropped and children queued for water in Rafah.
Tory Kit Malthouse, a former Cabinet minister, urged them to “do something concrete to save these lives”. UK Shadow Foreign Secretary David Lammy warned Gaza is now “hell on Earth”.