UK assessment clears Israel of fatal strike on Gaza hospital

'We need to invest in regional stability and the two-state solution,' Prime Minister Rishi Sunak says of current conflict

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The deadly strike on a Gaza hospital was probably caused by a missile fired from within the enclave, UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has said.

He was reporting to Parliament on Monday after a trip last week that included meeting Israeli and Palestinian leaders, and visits to Saudi Arabia and Jordan.

“The UK government judges that the explosion [at Al Ahli Arab Hospital] was likely caused by a missile or part of one that was launched from within Gaza towards Israel,” Mr Sunak said.

Britain’s assessment follows a similar analysis by France and the US but Mr Sunak did not explain how the decision was reached.

Mr Sunak hit out at “misreporting” of the incident, which he said had a “negative effect in the region, including on a vital US diplomatic effort”.

Israel and Hamas issued conflicting versions of events for the cause of the blast, with the Palestinian group blaming an Israeli air strike. Hundreds of people were reported dead in the blast.

“We need to learn the lessons and ensure that in future there is no rush to judgment,” Mr Sunak told MPs.

US President Joe Biden, during his visit to Tel Aviv, sided with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his government's version of events.

In Monday's speech to the UK Parliament, Mr Sunak also promised an extra £20 million ($24.45 million) in funding for humanitarian aid for Gaza and offered support for the two-state solution.

“Too many lives have already been lost and a humanitarian crisis is growing,” he said.

He said there were two key takeaways from his trip – the need for a “constant stream of aid” and a warning that some were “seeking escalation” of the conflict.

“We need to invest in regional stability and the two-state solution,” he said.

He told the Commons that other major diplomatic initiatives had “diverted energies” in recent years.

"All the leaders I met agree that this is a watershed moment … it’s time to set the region on a better path,” he said.

“Our support for a two-state solution is highly valued across the region but it can't be a cliched talking point to roll out at times like this.

“The truth is that in recent years, energy has moved into other avenues like the Abraham Accords and normalisation talks with Saudi Arabia.”

Of a potential two-state solution, he said: “It will rely on establishing more effective governance for Palestinian territories in Gaza and the West Bank. It will also mean challenging actions that undercut legitimate aspirations for Palestinian statehood.”

He said international partners needed to bring renewed energy and creativity to such efforts.