Britain ‘taking forward' Gaza food airdrop plan
'The prime minister set out how the UK will also be taking forward plans to work with partners such as Jordan to airdrop aid and evacuate children requiring medical assistance,' a statement said.
In a phone conversation, Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron and the German Chancellor Friedrich Merz discussed the humanitarian situation in Gaza 'which they agreed is appalling'.
'They all agreed it would be vital to ensure robust plans are in place to turn an urgently needed ceasefire into lasting peace,' according to a readout released by Downing Street.
'They discussed their intention to work closely together on a plan.... which would pave the way to a long-term solution and security in the region. They agreed that once this plan was worked up, they would seek to bring in other key partners, including in the region, to advance it,' it added.
The discussion comes a day after UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres slammed the international community for turning a blind eye to widespread starvation in the Gaza Strip, calling it a 'moral crisis that challenges the global conscience'.
Aid groups have warned of surging cases of starvation, particularly among children, in war-ravaged Gaza, which Israel placed under an aid blockade in March amid its ongoing war with Hamas. That blockade was partially eased two months later.
The trickle of aid since then has been controlled by the Israeli- and US-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Business Recorder
14 minutes ago
- Business Recorder
Hamas says delegation leaving Doha after Gaza ceasefire talks breakdown
GAZA CITY: Hamas's negotiating team left the Qatari capital Doha for Turkiye on Tuesday to discuss the 'latest developments' in the stalled Gaza ceasefire talks, a Hamas official told AFP. 'A high-level leadership delegation from Hamas, headed by Mohammed Darwish, president of the movement's leadership council, and including the negotiation team and its head, Khalil al-Hayya, is departing Doha heading to Istanbul', the source told AFP. 'The delegation will hold several meetings with Turkish officials regarding the latest developments in the ceasefire negotiations, which stalled last week', the source added. Trump says Gaza ceasefire 'possible' amid Starmer talks For over two weeks, mediators in Qatar had been shuttling between Israeli and Hamas delegations in a bid to secure a breakthrough in indirect talks for a ceasefire and the release of hostages held in Gaza, nearly two years into the war. The United States joined Israel last week in pulling its negotiators from the negotiations, with US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff blaming the Palestinian group for the failure to reach a deal and saying Washington would 'consider alternative options'. Hamas politburo member Bassem Naim told AFP on Friday that the latest discussions focused on details of an Israeli military withdrawal from the Gaza Strip. Israel has resisted international calls to agree a ceasefire in Gaza, with UN-backed experts warning on Tuesday that the Palestinian territory was slipping into famine. Israeli foreign minister Gideon Saar called the ceasefire demands 'a distorted campaign of international pressure against Israel' that would leave Hamas in power in Gaza. 'It ain't gonna happen, no matter how much pressure is put on Israel', he said at a press conference Tuesday.
Express Tribune
15 minutes ago
- Express Tribune
Dar reaffirms Pakistan's support for independent Palestinian state at UN
DPM Ishaq Dar addressing international conference on 'Question of Palestine and the Implementation of the Two-State Solution' at UN on Monday. Photo : Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar has reaffirmed Pakistan's unwavering support for Palestine's right to an independent state, emphasising the importance of the pre-1967 borders. Speaking at the United Nations High-Level International Conference on "The Peaceful Settlement of the Question of Palestine and the Implementation of the Two-State Solution" in New York, Dar highlighted his nation's long-standing stance on the Palestinian issue. "For over 75 years, the Palestinian people have endured occupation, displacement, and the denial of their fundamental rights," said Dar, addressing the assembled diplomats and officials. Statement by Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar* Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister of Pakistan *At the High-Level International Conference on the Peaceful Settlement of the Question of Palestine and the Implementation of the Two-State Solution* (28 July 2025) *** Honourable… — Permanent Mission of Pakistan to the UN (@PakistanUN_NY) July 28, 2025 The Foreign Minister condemned the ongoing violence in Gaza, particularly the deaths of over 58,000 Palestinians, calling it "an unconscionable breach of international humanitarian law." He stated that the situation violates United Nations resolutions and the binding decisions of the International Court of Justice. Dar urged for an "unconditional, immediate, and permanent ceasefire" across Gaza and all Palestinian-occupied territories, stressing the importance of protecting civilians and adhering to international laws. In addition, Dar called for "full and unimpeded humanitarian access," particularly the delivery of life-saving food and medicines to Gaza. He also highlighted the need for the protection of humanitarian teams working on the ground.
Business Recorder
an hour ago
- Business Recorder
Oil prices rise further on trade war relief
LONDON: Oil prices edged up on Tuesday on optimism that a trade war between the United States and its major trading partners was abating and as President Donald Trump ramped up pressure on Russia over its war in Ukraine. Brent crude futures were up 22 cents, or 0.3%, at $70.26 a barrel at 1218 GMT, having touched their highest since July 18, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude was at $66.98, up 27 cents, or 0.4%. Both contracts settled more than 2% higher in the previous session. The trade agreement between the United States and the European Union, while imposing a 15% import tariff on most EU goods, sidestepped a full-blown trade war between the two major allies that would have rippled across nearly a third of global trade and dimmed the outlook for fuel demand. Oil rises on US-EU trade deal The agreement also calls for $750 billion of EU purchases of U.S. energy over the next three years, which analysts say the bloc has virtually no chance of meeting, while European companies are to invest $600 billion in the U.S. over the course of President Donald Trump's second term. Top economic officials from the U.S. and China are meeting in Stockholm for a second day to resolve longstanding economic disputes and step back from an escalating trade war between the world's two biggest economies. Trump also set a new deadline on Monday of '10 or 12 days' for Russia to make progress toward ending the war in Ukraine. Trump has threatened sanctions on both Russia and buyers of its exports unless progress is made. 'Oil prices rallied after President Trump said he would shorten the deadline for Russia to come to a deal with Ukraine to end the war, raising supply concerns,' ING analysts said in a note. Market participants are also waiting to hear the outcome of the U.S. Federal Open Market Committee meeting on July 29-30. The Fed is widely expected to hold rates but could signal a dovish tilt amid signs of cooling inflation, said Priyanka Sachdeva, senior market analyst at brokerage Phillip Nova.
