- Lammy urges immediate ceasefire during Israel visit
- He emphasised the need to stop the horrendous loss of life and urged for the release of all hostages
- He expressed frustration over British aid trucks being blocked or delayed from entering Gaza and announced an additional £5.5m to support UK-Med’s work in the territory
- He also plans to address the future of UK funding to UNRWA
Lammy urges immediate ceasefire during Israel visit
David Lammy, during his first visit to Israel and the Palestinian Territories as Foreign Secretary, has called for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza. He emphasised the need to stop the horrendous loss of life and urged for the release of all hostages held in Gaza and an increase in aid to the territory.
In talks with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian Authority PM Mohammad Mustafa, Lammy stressed the importance of conducting war according to international humanitarian law. He expressed frustration over British aid trucks being blocked or delayed from entering Gaza and announced an additional £5.5m to support UK-Med’s work in the territory.
The Labour Party faces criticism from some Muslim voters for its response to the conflict. Lammy stated that the government is assessing and considering the legalities of weapons sales to Israel and would report to Parliament soon. He also plans to address the future of UK funding to UNRWA, the UN agency providing aid in Gaza, which had been suspended over allegations of staff involvement in the October 7 attack.
The visit comes amid a severe humanitarian crisis in Gaza, with over 38,000 killed in Israel’s offensive and a high risk of famine affecting nearly half a million people. Lammy’s efforts aim to address these urgent issues and promote peace and stability in the region.
Today I met with Israeli PM @netanyahu, and Palestinian Authority PM Mustafa.
— David Lammy (@DavidLammy) July 14, 2024
Our message is clear: we need an immediate ceasefire, the immediate release of all hostages, the protection of civilians, unfettered access to aid in Gaza, and a pathway towards a two-state solution. pic.twitter.com/kmmIBsHgov