After Joe Biden, Rishi Sunak backs Israel as conflict toll crosses 5,000

The toll in the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict crossed 5,000 Thursday amid reinforcement of western support for Israel - from visiting British PM Rishi Sunak - and a declaration by Egypt that the Rafah crossing would be opened Friday to allow humanitarian aid into Gaza. Late night, the Israeli defence minister hinted at the expected ground invasion, telling troops they will soon see Gaza "from inside".

The Hamas-run health ministry said 3,785 people have been killed in Gaza in Israeli airstrikes since October 7 when the Palestinian outfit launched an offensive in Israel, killing 1,400 people.



Sunak vowed to stand by Israel "in its darkest hour". "We also want you to win," he told his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem. From Israel, Sunak travelled to Riyadh where Saudi crown prince Mohammed bin Salman told him the kingdom considered targeting civilians in Gaza "a heinous crime".

Western countries have tried to balance their support for Israel with calls to ease the plight of Gazans which has enraged West Asia - a stance being tested by rival claims over the bombing of a Gaza hospital.



Hours after Biden backed the Israeli version, an unclassified US intel assessment said there was only "light structural damage at the hospital" and the toll was at the lower side of 100-300, against the Palestinian count of 471.