British UFC fighter Muhammad Mokaev has called on Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to “stop the genocide” and called for a ceasefire in the ongoing conflict in Gaza.
Mokaev, who came to the UK as a refugee from Dagestan aged nine with his father after the death of his mother, made the statement after his fight at UFC Vegas 87 on Saturday.
The 23-year-old had earned a unanimous points victory over Alex Perez in their flyweight competition.
Mokaev initially used his post-fight interview to urge UFC boss Dana White to give him a title fight, before pleading with Sunak over the Gaza crisis.
The fighter, who is Muslim, called for a ceasefire to be reached before the holy month of Ramadan, which begins on March 10.
Muhammad Mokaev called on UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to ‘stop the genocide’ in Gaza
British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak delivers a speech in Downing Street on March 1.
“Love to all my brothers around the world,” Mokaev said.
‘Free the genocide, Rishi Sunak, stop the genocide. The Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, stop this.
‘At least stop Ramadan, stop killing our children.
‘Alhamdulillah for victory. Thank you very much for the support around the world. I love you all.’
Sunak used a speech outside Number 10 on Friday night to warn of the “poison” on Britain’s streets following the October 7 attacks by Hamas on Israel.
The Prime Minister, in a message addressed to those participating in the pro-Palestine 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 decide to continue protesting: do not let the extremists take over your marches.
Pro-Palestinian activists stage a protest in Westminster following Rishi Sunak’s speech on Friday.
‘In the coming weeks they have the opportunity to demonstrate that they can protest decently, peacefully and with empathy for their fellow citizens.
“Let’s prove these extremists wrong and show them that even when we disagree, we will never be disunited.”
Pro-Palestinian parties resumed in the UK on Saturday following Sunak’s speech, and up to 48 protests are expected to take place across the UK this weekend, with 13 planned in London alone.
Another national march, organized by the Palestinian Solidarity Campaign, will take place in central London next Saturday, March 9.
Negotiators from regional powers have been working around the clock to secure a truce in Gaza before 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 continues, experts and insiders warn that the conflict is dragging Gaza’s civilians into a horrific humanitarian catastrophe.
People cry as they receive the bodies of victims of an Israeli attack on March 2.
Smoke rises after the Israeli bombardment in Rafah, in the southern Gaza Strip, on February 25.
People hold banners and Palestinian flags during a demonstration calling for a ceasefire, outside parliament as MPs consider a motion on Gaza on February 21.
Hamas militants took around 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 situation of Palestinians after five months of war and Israeli blockade of Gaza. The United Nations says that 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 has devastated Gaza. Much of the Hamas-run enclave has been devastated and more than 30,000 people have been killed and tens of thousands more injured, according to Gaza health authorities.