UK foreign minister calls situation in Gaza ‘indefensible'
'The sight of children reaching for aid and losing their lives has caused consternation over much of the world. And that is why I repeat my call today for a ceasefire,' Lammy said in a joint news conference with the Australian defense minister in Sydney.
'The deteriorating situation we've seen in Gaza over the last few weeks is indefensible.'
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Al Arabiya
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UK PM Starmer will hold emergency cabinet to discuss Gaza peace plan
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer will hold an emergency cabinet on Tuesday to discuss the situation in Gaza and a proposed peace plan as he comes under mounting pressure from his own party to recognize a Palestinian state. Starmer has taken the rare step of recalling his cabinet during the summer holidays to discuss how to deliver more humanitarian aid to Gaza. In a meeting with US President Donald Trump in Scotland on Monday, Starmer discussed the need for a ceasefire in Gaza and what he called the 'revolting' humanitarian crisis. Britain is working on the plan with France and Germany after a call between the leaders of the three countries last week. Starmer has not shared details of the plan, but over the weekend he compared the proposals to the 'coalition of the willing', the international effort to support Ukraine in the event of a ceasefire in its war with Russia. Starmer's spokesman said he would discuss the plan with other international allies and countries in the Middle East. War has raged in Gaza between Israel and Palestinian militants Hamas for the past 22 months. Israel has been facing growing international criticism, which its government rejects, over the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. With warnings people in Gaza are facing starvation, growing numbers of lawmakers in Starmer's Labor Party want him to recognize a Palestinian state to put pressure on Israel. British foreign minister David Lammy will attend a United Nations conference in New York on Tuesday to urge support for a two-state solution between Israel and the Palestinians. Successive British governments have said they will formally recognize a Palestinian state when the time is right, without ever setting a timetable or specifying the necessary conditions. The issue has come to the fore after President Emmanuel Macron said on Thursday France would recognize Palestine as a state. Starmer has so far rejected plans to immediately recognize a Palestinian state, saying he was focused on 'practical solutions.' Last week, more than 200 British members of parliament from nine parties signed a letter Friday calling for an immediate recognition of a Palestinian state.
Arab News
5 hours ago
- Arab News
UK PM Starmer recalls cabinet to discuss Gaza peace plan
LONDON: British Prime Minister Keir Starmer will hold an emergency cabinet on Tuesday to discuss the situation in Gaza and a proposed peace plan as he comes under mounting pressure from his own party to recognize a Palestinian state. Starmer has taken the rare step of recalling his cabinet during the summer holidays to discuss how to deliver more humanitarian aid to Gaza. In a meeting with US President Donald Trump in Scotland on Monday, Starmer discussed the need for a ceasefire in Gaza and what he called the 'revolting' humanitarian crisis. Britain is working on the plan with France and Germany after a call between the leaders of the three countries last week. Starmer has not shared details of the plan, but over the weekend he compared the proposals to the 'coalition of the willing,' the international effort to support Ukraine in the event of a ceasefire in its war with Russia. Starmer's spokesman said he would discuss the plan with other international allies and countries in the Middle East. War has raged in Gaza between Israel and Palestinian militants Hamas for the past 22 months. Israel has been facing growing international criticism, which its government rejects, over the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. With warnings people in Gaza are facing starvation, growing numbers of lawmakers in Starmer's Labour Party want him to recognize a Palestinian state to put pressure on Israel. British foreign minister David Lammy will attend a United Nations conference in New York on Tuesday to urge support for a two-state solution between Israel and the Palestinians. Successive British governments have said they will formally recognize a Palestinian state when the time is right, without ever setting a timetable or specifying the necessary conditions. The issue has come to the fore after President Emmanuel Macron said on Thursday France would recognize Palestine as a state. Starmer has so far rejected plans to immediately recognize a Palestinian state, saying he was focused on 'practical solutions.' Last week, more than 200 British members of parliament from nine parties signed a letter Friday calling for an immediate recognition of a Palestinian state.
Arab News
2 days ago
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Israel's daily pauses fall short of easing Gaza suffering: UK
LONDON, GAZA: Israel's decision on Sunday to pause military operations for 10 hours a day in parts of Gaza and allow new aid corridors falls short of what is needed to alleviate suffering in the enclave, Britain's Foreign Secretary David Lammy said. Lammy said in a statement that Israel's announcement was 'essential but long overdue,' and that access to aid must now be urgently accelerated over the coming hours and days. 'This announcement alone cannot alleviate the needs of those desperately suffering in Gaza,' Lammy said. 'We need a ceasefire that can end the war, for hostages to be released and aid to enter Gaza by land unhindered.' Lammy said that access to aid must now be urgently accelerated over the coming hours and days. The Israeli military said the 'tactical pause' in Gaza City, Deir Al-Balah and Muwasi, three areas with large populations, would increase humanitarian aid entering the territory. The pause runs from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily until further notice. Jordan said it carried out three airdrops over Gaza, including one in cooperation with the UAE, dropping 25 tonnes of food and supplies on several locations. 'Whichever path we choose, we will have to continue to allow the entry of minimal humanitarian supplies,' Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a statement. Despite the annouoncement of temporary pauses, Israeli strikes killed at least 38 Palestinians from late Saturday into Sunday, including 23 seeking aid. An airstrike on a Gaza City apartment killed a woman and her four children. Another strike killed four people, including a boy, his mother and grandfather, in the eastern Zaytoun neighborhood. US President Donald Trump said Israel would have to make a decision on next steps in Gaza, adding that he did not know what would happen after moves by Israel to pull out of ceasefire and hostage-release negotiations with the Hamas militant group. Trump underscored the importance of securing the release of hostages held by Hamas in Gaza, saying they had suddenly 'hardened' up on the issue. 'They don't want to give them back, and so Israel is going to have to make a decision,' Trump told reporters at the start of a meeting with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen at his golf property in Turnberry, Scotland. Two Israeli soldiers were killed in combat in southern Gaza on Sunday, the military said, a day after confirming another soldier had died of wounds sustained last week. The two soldiers, aged 20 and 22, served in the Golani Infantry Brigade's 51st Battalion. Israeli military sources said they were killed when their armored vehicle exploded in the city of Khan Yunis.
