Latest news with #Lammy
The National
3 hours ago
- Politics
- The National
Arab and Muslim nations back French-Saudi plan urging Hamas to disarm and cede Gaza control
Qatar, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Turkey and Indonesia joined a growing chorus of states on Tuesday calling on Hamas to relinquish control and disarm in Gaza, supporting a UN-backed effort to halt the devastating conflict and revive stalled peace talks. Seventeen countries, alongside the European Union and Arab League, endorsed a seven-page declaration agreed to at the high-level UN conference aimed at advancing a two-state solution between Israel and the Palestinians. The text echoed the key demand of Israel and western powers while also emphasising the need for tangible steps towards Palestinian statehood. 'In the context of ending the war in Gaza, Hamas must end its rule in Gaza and hand over its weapons to the Palestinian Authority, with international engagement and support, in line with the objective of a sovereign and independent Palestinian State,' read the declaration. It also called for the possible deployment of foreign and UN forces to help stabilise Gaza in a post-conflict phase. The move signals rising Arab frustration with Hamas, whose grip on the enclave has been under international scrutiny following almost two years of fighting and a worsening humanitarian crisis. Speaking at the UN, British Foreign Secretary David Lammy told reporters that the UK is on a 'pathway' to recognise the state of Palestine by September, ahead of the high-level meeting of the UN General Assembly. 'We have always believed there is no better vision for the region than two states,' Mr Lammy said, outlining Britain's push to 'affect the situation on the ground' in the coming weeks. 'We have seen the most horrific scenes. The global community is deeply offended by children being shot and killed as they reach out for aid." Khalifa Shaheen Al Marar, UAE Minister of State, welcomed Britain's announcement, telling member states that the move offers momentum to end what he described as 'a tragic chapter in the history of the Middle East". 'To avoid the continuation of the conflict and the occurrence of confrontations and violence, a political horizon must be created by adopting a clear, binding and irreversible road map for the establishment of an independent, sovereign Palestinian state,' he said. Such a state, he added, must exist 'living in peace and security side by side with the State of Israel', and require the full commitment of all concerned parties. 'Every day that passes without a solution, deepens the wounds and distances the chances of peace,' he said. 'Today, the path ahead is clear, especially with the steps and commitments expressed by the international community.'
Qatar Tribune
7 hours ago
- Politics
- Qatar Tribune
UK foreign secretary praises efforts of Qatar, Egypt, US to end war on Gaza
Foreign Secretary of the United Kingdom David Lammy has praised the efforts of Qatar, Egypt, and the United States as mediators to end the war in the Gaza Strip. In a statement, Lammy said: 'The UK supports the efforts of Qatar, Egypt and the US as mediators and urges all parties to resume talks on a pathway for lasting peace and security.' He stressed that the humanitarian suffering in Gaza has reached new depths. In this context, he called for the acceleration of the delivery of humanitarian aid in the coming hours and days. He noted that the Israeli occupation's announcement of a temporary pause to allow the opening of humanitarian corridors and the resumption of airdrops of aid alone cannot alleviate the suffering of those in need. Lammy stressed the need for a ceasefire that can end the war, for hostages to be released, and for aid to enter Gaza by land unhindered. In this regard, he said that land routes serve as the only viable and sustainable means of providing aid into Gaza, adding that these measures must be fully implemented and further barriers on aid removed. Lammy pointed out that UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has already announced plans to work with Jordan to get aid into Gaza and to evacuate children who need critical medical assistance to the UK for treatment.
Qatar Tribune
a day ago
- Politics
- Qatar Tribune
UK foreign secretary praises efforts of Qatar, Egypt and US to end war on Gaza
QNA London Foreign Secretary of the United Kingdom David Lammy has praised the efforts of Qatar, Egypt, and the United States as mediators to end the war in the Gaza Strip. In a statement, Lammy said: 'The UK supports the efforts of Qatar, Egypt and the US as mediators and urges all parties to resume talks on a pathway for lasting peace and security.' He stressed that the humanitarian suffering in Gaza has reached new depths. He called for the acceleration of the delivery of humanitarian aid in the coming hours and days. He noted that the Israeli occupation's announcement of a temporary pause to allow the opening of humanitarian corridors and the resumption of airdrops of aid alone cannot alleviate the suffering of those in need. Lammy stressed the need for a ceasefire that can end the war, for hostages to be released, and for aid to enter Gaza by land unhindered. He said that land routes serve as the only viable and sustainable means of providing aid into Gaza, adding that these measures must be fully implemented and further barriers on aid removed. Lammy pointed out that UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has already announced plans to work with Jordan to get aid into Gaza and to evacuate children who need critical medical assistance to the UK for treatment.
Qatar Tribune
2 days ago
- Politics
- Qatar Tribune
Military pause not enough to ease Gaza suffering: UK minister
PA Media/dpa 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.
Sydney Morning Herald
2 days ago
- Politics
- Sydney Morning Herald
‘Fight together': Britain warns on China, backs Australia
Healey spoke after being asked by The Telegraph what the UK was doing to help countries like Taiwan prepare for potential escalation from China, but he added that he was speaking in general terms and that the UK wanted to settle any disputes peacefully and through diplomacy. Australians are cautious about the nature of the nation's strategic challenge with China, with 28 per cent of voters saying in March 2023 that it and Russia pose threats that need to be confronted soon. The results, in the Resolve Political Monitor for this masthead, found that 52 per cent thought China and Russia were threats that could be managed carefully over time. Deterrent effect The Resolve Political Monitor found that a clear majority of Australians did not want to side with the US against China, when asked in the days after Donald Trump won the US presidential election last November. The respondents were asked if they believed Australia should avoid taking sides in any conflict between the US and China. The survey found that 57 per cent agreed, 16 per cent disagreed, and the remainder were unsure. The UK has made a significant show of force with its contribution to Talisman Sabre this year, sending 3000 personnel at a time when some in the Trump administration have questioned why it should send forces to the Indo-Pacific. The aircraft carrier was accompanied by an air-defence destroyer and a tanker. Lammy warned on the weekend that China had to be challenged on its conduct with the UK and other countries, as he blamed it for espionage, repression in Hong Kong and helping allies such as Russia, Iran and North Korea. The UK Foreign Secretary echoed Prime Minister Anthony Albanese by saying the goal was to work with China while disagreeing when necessary. 'We wanted a consistent position on China where we would co-operate what we can, but we would absolutely challenge where we must,' he said. Albanese has often said: 'We should co-operate where we can, disagree where we must.' Lammy named China's actions in recent days, when Hong Kong authorities offered cash to anyone who would help them arrest pro-democracy activists in other countries, as an example of 'transnational repression' that should stop. Loading 'We challenge China on their espionage in the UK; we are hugely concerned about the sanctioning of members of parliament. We have big issues with transnational repression,' he said in a question-and-answer session with Lowy Institute executive director Michael Fullilove. 'So we have very tough issues that I have raised continually with [Foreign Minister] Wang Yi and the Chinese.' At the same time, he said, he wanted to co-operate with China on climate change, world health and trade. Lammy said he had presented Chinese leaders with a list of their companies helping Russian leader Vladimir Putin in the war in Ukraine. 'I've been in Kyiv, I've seen the shells that have come from North Korea, killing Europeans,' he said during remarks to the Lowy Institute on Saturday.
