By Ollus Ndomu
Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has expressed deep regret, saying he “begs for forgiveness” for his inability to bring home alive the six hostages whose bodies were found in Gaza on Saturday.
As Netanyahu delivered his remarks, protests erupted across Israel, including outside his residence, with demonstrators demanding that the government secure a deal for the release of hostages held by Hamas.
In a related development, the UK announced the suspension of some export licenses for military equipment to Israel. Foreign Secretary David Lammy stated that there is a “clear risk” that the items could be used in “serious violations of international humanitarian law.”
Israel’s Defence Minister Yoav Gallant expressed deep disappointment over the UK’s decision, while Foreign Minister Israel Katz described it as sending a “problematic” message to Hamas.
