Military pause not enough to ease Gaza suffering: UK minister
London
Military pauses promised by Israel will not alone be enough to ease suffering in Gaza, British Foreign Secretary David Lammy has warned as the UK joined efforts to airdrop aid into the territory.
Lammy welcomed the resumption of humanitarian corridors in the enclave but called for access to supplies to be 'urgently' widened over the coming hours and days.
He said Israel's announcement that it would suspend fighting in three populated areas of Gaza for 10 hours a day and open secure routes for aid delivery to desperate Palestinians was 'essential but long overdue.'
'This announcement alone cannot alleviate the needs of those desperately suffering in Gaza,' the UK foreign secretary said in a statement on Sunday.
'We need a ceasefire that can end the war, for hostages to be released and aid to enter Gaza by land unhindered.
'Whilst airdrops will help to alleviate the worst of the suffering, land routes serve as the only viable and sustainable means of providing aid into Gaza.
'These measures must be fully implemented and further barriers on aid removed. The world is watching.'
Britain is working with Jordan to airdrop aid into Gaza and evacuate children needing medical assistance, with military planners deployed for further support.
However, the head of the UN's Palestinian refugee agency has warned that such efforts are 'a distraction' that will fail to properly address deepening starvation in the strip, and could in some cases harm civilians.
UNRWA chief Philippe Lazzarini said: 'A man-made hunger can only be addressed by political will.
'Lift the siege, open the gates and guarantee safe movements and dignified access to people in need.' On Sunday, Israel announced military pauses to enable the 'safe movement' of food and medicine to Gaza via designated UN convoys amid mounting international alarm at humanitarian conditions in the strip.
Images emerging from Gaza in recent days of emaciated children have seen the country's government criticised for its conduct during the 21-month war.
Food experts have warned for months of the risk of famine as Israel continued to restrict aid, which it says is because the Palestinian Islamist organization Hamas siphons off goods.
Ceasefire talks between the two sides ground to a standstill this week after the US and Israel withdrew negotiating teams from Qatar, with White House special envoy Steve Witkoff accusing Hamas of a 'lack of desire' to reach an agreement.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer is expected to press Donald Trump on the revival of talks as he meets the US president during his visit to Scotland on Monday.
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