Israel ‘expects’ UK to join potential attack on Iran

Israel ‘expects’ UK to join potential attack on Iran

Israel has said it expects the UK to join it in attacking “significant” targets in Iran in response to any strikes by Tehran.

The comments came as ‌David Lammy, the Foreign Secretary, visited Jerusalem on Friday to meet his French and Israeli counterparts.

Israel Katz told Mr Lammy and Stephane Sejourne that if Iran attacked Israel “we expect the coalition to join Israel not only in defence but also in striking significant targets in Iran.”

Israel will not be able to refrain from responding “forcefully to any harm against it,” Mr Katz said. He added that if Iran did not stop its “aggression” it would “pay a price soon”.

Mr Lammy called it “a dangerous moment for the Middle East” and warned that the risk of the situation spiralling out of control was “rising.”

“Any Iranian attack would have devastating consequences for the region,” he added.

‌The Foreign Secretary also called on Hamas and Israel to engage “seriously” in ceasefire negotiations, which continued on Friday in Doha, Qatar.

‌“There can be no delays or excuses… This is a vital opportunity to secure the release of hostages and an immediate surge in aid into Gaza,” he said.

Relatives of hostages held by Hamas protesting in Tel Aviv last night amid growing pressure for a ceasefire deal – Ohad Zwigenberg/AP

Israeli newspaper Ynet reported that Mohammed Bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, the Qatari prime minister, told Iranian leaders that they should “consider if it’s advisable” for Tehran and Hezbollah to follow through on their threats to attack Israel in the middle of ceasefire negotiations.

The US said the “remaining obstacles” in the ceasefire negotiations could be overcome and called on Hamas and Israel to close the deal.

Mr Katz warned that Hamas might “harden” its position in the ceasefire talks in anticipation of an Iranian attack on Israel.

Israeli newspaper Haaretz Daily cited a source familiar with the talks as saying that the parties “hope to see progress within the next 24 hours” and that the negotiations had been “successful so far and have taken place in a positive spirit.”

While the US said that Israel and Hamas have largely agreed to the framework presented by Joe Biden, both parties have expressed reservations over remaining issues such as the presence of Israeli forces in Gaza.

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