Fighting likely to continue in Middle East for the foreseeable, says UEA expert
It's exactly a year since Hamas launched a range of attacks against Israel
An expert in international relations at a University in Norfolk is telling us that we're likely to see a continuation of fighting in the Middle East- for some time to come.
It's exactly a year since Hamas - which the UK considers a terrorist group - launched a range of attacks against Israel from Gaza, sparking a wider conflict in the region, which still continues.
Dr Ra Mason is from the University of East Anglia. He worries fighting will continue into the coming months: "A large part of this is driven by internal. domestic politics, on the Israeli side, to an extent on Hamas' side, and within the United States - who are Israel's primary backers in this conflict...
"There are powerful vested interests in the US, combined with an Israeli government which is desperate to hold on to power, led by Benjamin Netanyahu, which can only do so through a rhetoric of existential threat."
Dr Mason isn't writing off the possibility of a ceasefire, but doesn't think it'll happen in the short term: "There is a huge amount of animosity built up on both sides, particularly between those in Gaza and Israel, and also now between those in Lebanon, Iran and Israel.
"I think a ceasefire is going to be difficult, but perhaps in the mid to longer-term possible."
"We must unequivocally stand with the Jewish community"
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has said that "we must unequivocally stand with the Jewish community" and reiterated his calls for a ceasefire.
Sir Keir described October 7 2023 as "the darkest day in Jewish history since the Holocaust" and said that "collective grief has not diminished" in the year since, and reiterated his calls for a ceasefire.
The anniversary comes against a backdrop of escalating violence in the Middle East, with the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office having helped hundreds of people to leave Lebanon in recent days.
A fourth charter flight for Britons wanting to leave Lebanon departed Beirut on Sunday.
The Government has said that it is the last of the planned flights due to a decrease in demand, but the situation will be monitored.
"Their grief and pain are ours"
In a statement marking the first anniversary of October 7, the Prime Minister reflected on the killings.
"Men, women, children and babies killed, mutilated, and tortured by the terrorists of Hamas.
"Jewish people murdered whilst protecting their families, young people massacred at a music festival, people abducted from their homes," The Prime Minister said.
"As a father, a husband, a son, a brother, meeting the families of those who lost their loved ones last week was unimaginable.
"Their grief and pain are ours, and it is shared in homes across the land.
"A year on, that collective grief has not diminished or waned."
He said that "we must unequivocally stand with the Jewish community and unite as a country" and "never look the other way in the face of hate".
"We must also not look the other way"
Sir Keir also said that "we must also not look the other way as civilians bear the ongoing dire consequences of this conflict in the Middle East" as he reiterated his calls for ceasefires in Gaza and Lebanon and "for the removal of all restrictions on humanitarian aid into Gaza".
The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) said on Sunday evening that the UK has "helped over 430 people to leave Lebanon" over the last week.
British nationals who remain in Lebanon are being advised to register their presence to receive up-to-date information, and to take the "next available commercial flight".
In a post on X on Sunday evening, the FCDO said: "Over the last week the UK has helped over 430 people to leave Lebanon.
"Our fourth UK charter flight has now left Beirut.
"Due to reduced demand, no further flights are scheduled, but we will continue to monitor the situation closely."