British UFC fighter Muhammad Mokaev has called on Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to ‘stop genocide’ and called for a ceasefire in the ongoing conflict in Gaza.
Mokaev, who came to Britain as a refugee from Dagestan at the age of nine with his father after the death of his mother, made the plea on Saturday after his fight at UFC Vegas 87.
The 23-year-old had scored a unanimous points victory over Alex Perez in their flyweight bout.
Mokaev initially used his post-fight interview to urge UFC boss Dana White to give him a title fight, before making a plea to Sunak over the Gaza crisis.
The fighter, who is Muslim, urged a ceasefire before the holy month of Ramadan, which starts on March 10.
Muhammad Mokaev called on British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to ‘stop the genocide in Gaza’
British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak will give a speech in Downing Street on March 1
“Love to all my brothers all over the world,” Mokaev said.
‘Free genocide, Rishi Sunak stop the genocide. Prime Minister of Great Britain, stop this.
“At least during Ramadan, stop killing our children.
‘Alhamdulillah for the victory. Thank you so much for the support all over the world. I love you all.’
Sunak used a speech outside Number 10 on Friday evening to warn of “poison” on the streets of Britain in the aftermath of Hamas’s October 7 attacks on Israel.
The prime minister, in a message addressed to those taking part in pro-Palestinian protests, urged people to reject extremist messages.
But ahead of the planned protests, organizers told him to “look in the mirror” and expel some senior MPs from his party.
“I want to speak directly to those who choose to continue protesting: Don’t let the extremists hijack your marches.
Pro-Palestinian activists stage a protest in Westminster following Rishi Sunak’s speech on Friday
‘In the coming weeks you have the opportunity to show that you can protest decently, peacefully and with empathy for your fellow citizens.
“Let’s prove these extremists wrong and show that even when we disagree, we will never be divided.”
Pro-Palestinian matches resumed in Britain on Saturday after Sunak’s speech. Up to 48 protests are expected to take place across Britain this weekend, with 13 planned in London alone.
Another national march, organized by the Palestine Solidarity Campaign, will take place in central London this Saturday, March 9.
Negotiators from regional powers have been working around the clock to secure a ceasefire in Gaza by the start of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan on March 10.
Delegations from Israel and Hamas are expected to arrive in Cairo on Sunday for talks.
As the war rages on, experts and insiders warn that the conflict is dragging Gaza’s civilians into a horrific humanitarian catastrophe.
People cry as they mourn as they receive the dead bodies of victims of an Israeli attack on March 2
Smoke rises after the Israeli bombardment of Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip on February 25
People hold banners and Palestinian flags during a rally calling for a ceasefire, outside parliament as MPs consider a motion on Gaza on February 21
Hamas militants took about 250 hostages during their unprecedented cross-border attack on Israel on October 7, 130 of whom remain in Gaza, including 31 who Israel says are presumed dead.
It was unclear how many of the remaining hostages are considered vulnerable.
World leaders are under pressure to ease the increasingly desperate plight of Palestinians after five months of war and Israel’s blockade of Gaza. The United Nations says a quarter of the population – 576,000 people – is one step away from famine.
Israel launched the offensive in response to the October 7 attack by Hamas terrorists.
The attack devastated Gaza. Gaza health authorities say much of the Hamas-controlled enclave has been destroyed, killing more than 30,000 people and wounding tens of thousands.