Rishi Sunak says six Britons killed and 10 missing after Hamas attack on Israel | Politics News

At least six British citizens were killed in Hamas’s attack on Israel and a further 10 are missing, Rishi Sunak has told MPs.

The prime minister described the events of last Saturday as a “pogrom” – an act of organised torture or killing of a large group of people on the basis of their race or religion.

Giving an update in the House of Commons, he said that overall, more than 1,400 people were murdered, over 3,500 wounded and almost 200 taken hostage.

He said that included the elderly and babies who were “murdered, mutilated, burned alive”.

“We should call it by its name: it was a pogrom,” the prime minister said.

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Mr Sunak said the “terrible nature of these attacks means it is proving difficult to identify many of the deceased” but at least six Britons were killed.

“A further 10 are missing, some of whom are feared to be among the dead,” he added.

The prime minister said the relatives of some of the missing were in Parliament watching his statement and the UK is working with Israel to establish the facts and support them through their “unimaginable pain”.

He said eight flights so far have brought back 500 British nationals from Israel, with more leaving in the coming hours.

He said the UK must “support absolutely Israel’s right to defend itself” in targeting Hamas and rescuing hostages from Gaza within international law.

But he also recognised that the Palestinian people are “victims of Hamas too” as he announced an extra £10 million of aid funding.

He said that Hamas is using Palestinians as human shields and 2,600 Palestinians have been killed, adding: “We mourn the loss of every innocent life.”