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
Syrian authorities bust smuggling ring, tighten border controls
- Smugglers' boat collides with rocks as it attempted to flee pursuing as Coast Guard vessels
- The boat was about to illegally transport passengers from the Syrian coast of Tartus coast to Cyprus
DAMASCUS: Syrian Coast Guard forces have arrested members of a human smuggling network operating in the western town of Tartus, the Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) reported Saturday.
Authorities pounced on the smugglers as they were about to transport passengers from the Tartus coast to Cyprus by illegal means, the state media said, citing a statement from the General Authority of Ports and Customs.
"The operation resulted in the arrest of all those involved, including the organizers of the trip," said the report, adding that the smugglers' boat attempted to escape as Coast Guard vessels surrounded it, but collided with rocks.
No details were made available on how many suspects were arrested and how many passengers were rescued. Criminal charges are being prepared against the arrested suspects, SANA said.
New restrictions on commercial transit
In a separate move to regulate trade and border security, the ports and customs authority has issued a new policy restricting truck access at land crossings and seaports.
Commercial trucks will now only be permitted entry for loading or unloading upon presentation of an original receipt from the Ministry of Transport’s freight office.
The transfer of cargo between Syrian and non-Syrian vehicles must now take place strictly within designated customs yards at border crossings.
Trucks passing through Syria in transit remain permitted, provided they are under a mandatory customs escort between entry and exit points.
