LONDON: UK Foreign Secretary David Cameron said Wednesday “more must be done to get humanitarian aid into Gaza” and that Israel “must allow significantly more supplies in to reduce the risk of hunger and disease.”
“The UK also wants to see the immediate release of hostages and progress toward a sustainable cease-fire,” the former British leader added, noting he had discussed the issues with new Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz.
Katz took up the post on Tuesday, just as fears mount that Israel’s war in Gaza, which it has waged for almost three months, could spiral across the Middle East.
The conversation with Cameron comes after the first UK maritime shipment of aid for Gaza arrived in Egypt this week, carrying nearly 90 tons of thermal blankets and other essential items, according to the British government.
The shipment, which contained over 10,000 thermal blankets, nearly 5,000 shelter packs and medical supplies, was delivered from Cyprus by a Royal Fleet Auxiliary ship, London said on Tuesday.
It is set to be transferred to the Rafah crossing by the Egyptian Red Crescent and be distributed in Gaza by the United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA), it added.
Cameron — who made a surprise return to frontline UK politics in November, after stepping down as prime minister in the aftermath of losing the 2016 Brexit referendum — visited the region last month.
Among other talks, he discussed with his Egyptian counterpart Israel’s war in Gaza as well as the volatile situation in the Red Sea.
UK’s Cameron says ‘more must be done’ to get aid into Gaza
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UK’s Cameron says ‘more must be done’ to get aid into Gaza
- Conversation with Cameron comes after first UK maritime shipment of aid for Gaza arrived in Egypt this week
- Shipment was carrying nearly 90 tons of thermal blankets and other items, according to UK government
Israel objects to US announcement of leaders who will play a role in overseeing next steps in Gaza
- Trump administration earlier in the week said the US-drafted ceasefire plan for Gaza was now moving into its challenging second phase
JERUSALEM: Israel’s government is objecting to the White House announcement of leaders who will play a role in overseeing next steps in Gaza.
The rare criticism from Israel of its close ally in Washington says the Gaza executive committee “was not coordinated with Israel and is contrary to its policy,” without details.
Saturday’s statement also said Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has told the foreign ministry to contact Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
The committee announced by the White House on Friday includes no Israeli official but has an Israeli businessman. Other members announced so far include two of US President Donald Trump’s closest confidants, a former British prime minister, an American general and a collection of top officials from Middle Eastern governments.
The White House has said the executive committee will carry out the vision of a Trump-led “Board of Peace,” whose members have not yet been named. The White House also announced the members of a new Palestinian committee to run Gaza’s day to day affairs, with oversight from the executive committee.
The committee’s members include US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Trump envoy Steve Witkoff, Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner, former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, Apollo Global Management CEO Marc Rowan, World Bank President Ajay Banga and Trump’s deputy national security adviser Robert Gabriel.
The Trump administration earlier in the week said the US-drafted ceasefire plan for Gaza was now moving into its challenging second phase, which includes the new Palestinian committee in Gaza, deployment of an international security force, disarmament of Hamas and reconstruction of the war-battered territory.
The ceasefire took effect on Oct. 10, with the first phase focusing on the return of all remaining hostages in exchange for the release of hundreds of Palestinian detainees, along with a surge in humanitarian aid and a partial withdrawal of Israeli forces in Gaza.
