British Foreign Secretary David Cameron visited Jerusalem on Thursday to meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Cameron, who was appointed to the foreign policy brief last week, wanted to see firsthand the impact of the recent Hamas attacks on communities in the south of Israel. He expressed his support for Israel and the need for a humanitarian pause in the conflict to get hostages out and aid into Gaza. Cameron's visit came as the war in Gaza continued, with a proposed truce and hostage release delayed.

Netanyahu emphasized the importance of eradicating Hamas and stated that there can be no hope for peace in the region without eliminating this "murderous movement." Cameron also visited Kibbutz Be'eri in southern Israel, where he witnessed the devastation caused by the attacks. He later met with President Isaac Herzog to discuss the humanitarian situation in Gaza and the UK's contribution to improving it.

A recent agreement was reached, which includes the release of hostages, a four-day pause in fighting, and the entry of humanitarian aid into Gaza. Israel estimates that 239 Israelis are still being held by Hamas following the October 7 attack. The death toll in Gaza stands at over 14,500 Palestinians, while the official Israeli death toll is 1,200. Both the UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Cameron's predecessor James Cleverly have also visited Israel during the conflict.