The prime minister goes to Israel later today, for a two-day trip in which he will hold talks with the country’s prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, and President Isaac Herzog.

The trip is intended as a show of solidarity to Israel.

“Rishi Sunak will also use it to try to build on the work of the US in pushing for humanitarian aid for Palestinian civilians, prevent the escalation of the Israel-Hamas war into a broader regional conflict, and show support for British nationals in Gaza, while raising the cases of the nine missing Britons,” Rigby says. 

“But, at such a febrile and tense time in this war, Mr Sunak’s visit comes with obvious risk.

“You only have to look at how President Biden’s carefully choreographed visit unravelled mid-flight following the devastating blast at al Ahli hospital in Gaza City, which killed hundreds of people and prompted Arab leaders to cancel a previously scheduled summit with the US leader.

“After ‘unfortunate timing’ for President Biden, the PM’s team are keen to downplay expectations of what, if anything, he can achieve in the coming couple of days.”

What you need to know this morning

Good morning. You’re joining us as Rishi Sunak is set to land in Israel for talks with Benjamin Netanyahu.

His visit comes after Joe Biden met with the Israeli prime minister yesterday and appeared to back Israel’s claims it was not responsible for an explosion at a Gaza hospital.

Claim and counter-claim have continued to be exchanged over who was responsible for the blast, which Gaza officials say killed 471 people.

But even the death toll is contested, with Israel claiming Hamas has inflated the numbers.

Regardless, protests erupted across the Middle East and beyond yesterday, with some leading to clashes between demonstrators and security forces.

Following Mr Biden’s visit, Israel said it would allow Egypt to deliver limited humanitarian aid to Gaza.

Tonnes of aid had been languishing at the border while on the other side of the gates, civilians are running out of fuel, electricity and water.

Action Against Hunger called the deepening humanitarian crisis in Gaza “a health crisis on the brink of explosion”.

It is not clear when the aid will be allowed in.

Meanwhile, Israeli airstrikes have continued to bombard the territory, including refugee camps.