00:00 So the UK has been operating flights for British nationals who are in wider Israel from Ben
00:09 Gurion Airport for the last day or so. Around 917 have so far taken the opportunity to leave
00:16 Israel on those flights. Clearly our concern though is for those who are less able to leave
00:25 by that route, those who are in Gaza. There are reports this morning that perhaps the
00:31 Rafah crossing may open. That would be great if it did, but it's important to note that
00:37 our embassies in the region are being very clear that that is yet to be confirmed. And
00:43 so we will continue to push for that to happen. And when it does, support those who are leaving
00:50 across the Rafah crossing to get out through Sinai and then back to the UK. Obviously there
00:57 are likely to be some British hostages that were taken as part of those that Hamas captured
01:04 last weekend. And there will obviously be a number of British citizens. We've heard
01:09 in the news over the last few days that there are many who are related to high profile people
01:14 in the UK. The moment that the opportunity comes for them to leave, we hope that they
01:19 will and our embassies in the region stand ready to support them. The US, the UK and
01:24 others are moving military assets into the region to deter others who might see this
01:30 as an opportunity to expand the conflict, not to do so. Similarly, the diplomatic efforts
01:37 are going at maximum speed. The prime minister and the foreign secretary, like the president
01:41 of the United States and secretary of state Blinken have been on the phone or in visits
01:46 almost constantly since this happened last Saturday, because it's really important that
01:51 there is an understanding across the region of what is going on, what Israel's objectives
01:57 are, the legitimacy of Israel's cause, and that what is already a very tense geopolitical
02:03 situation isn't made worse. We are, like others who are supporting Israel's rights to defend
02:09 itself and Israel's rights to destroy Hamas. We are making the point that democracies hold
02:15 themselves to a higher standard. Israel, to be clear, has been doing exactly that over
02:22 the last two or three days. It has given direction for the civilian population to leave the north
02:28 of Gaza. Israel has incredibly capable intelligence services that will allow the military operation
02:35 to be delivered with maximum precision. But let's be clear, there is no point pretending
02:43 that when you are against an adversary like Hamas, who routinely uses the civilian population
02:48 to hide its fighters, that uses civic infrastructure and buildings to hide their ammunition dumps,
02:56 it is inevitable that there will be people who are caught in the crossfire. That is really
03:02 regrettable, deeply regrettable.
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