The situation in Gaza and the wider Middle East remains deeply concerning. The ceasefire, which not too long ago provided a ray of hope, has collapsed, and the region has once again been plunged into violence.
The YK Government is very clear: we do not support the expansion of Israel’s military operations. Continued fighting and bloodshed serve no one’s interests.
For weeks, the ceasefire, albeit on delicate footing, was working; hostages were reunited with their families, and humanitarian aid finally flowed into Gaza. Food, medicine, and essential supplies began reaching those in desperate need.
The UK Government acted swiftly, committing £17 million in additional emergency funding, bringing our total support for Palestinians across the region to £129 million.
However, in recent weeks, negotiations have become increasingly challenging again. Hamas has refused to release further hostages, and Israeli forces have not withdrawn from the Philadelphi corridor as agreed.
The decision on March 2nd by the Israeli government to block further aid deliveries until Hamas met its terms has had dire consequences: over half a million civilians have been cut off from clean drinking water, the price of basic needs goods has surged, and already stretched medical services are now again overwhelmed. This is simply unacceptable.
As this Government has stated before, Gaza has become the most dangerous place in the world for aid workers. Over 400 humanitarian workers have been killed since the conflict began. The UK Government is appalled by the recent attacks on aid workers, including the strike on a United Nations Office for Project Services guesthouse and the killing of at least eight Palestinian Red Crescent medics.
We are clear: those responsible for perpetrating such atrocities must be held accountable, and Israel must allow humanitarian agencies to deliver aid safely to the region.
Aid should never be used as a political tool. Israel must immediately restart the flow of humanitarian supplies. Blocking vital goods, including food and medicine, and cutting off power in Gaza risks breaching international humanitarian law. This cannot be allowed to continue.
The UK, alongside partners such as France and Germany, is sending a clear message: a return to diplomacy is essential. The Foreign Secretary has been in active discussions with international counterparts, including with the United States, European Union, the UN and Israeli and Palestinian leaders to get all parties back onto the path of lasting peace.
As we have always said, diplomacy remains the only path to security for both Palestinians and Israelis. We continue to call for an urgent return to ceasefire negotiations, ensuring the release of all hostages and a permanent end to hostilities.
The UK Labour Government remains steadfast in its commitment to securing a two-state solution as the only viable path to lasting peace. This conflict will not be resolved by further military action. Both Palestinians and Israelis deserve to live in peace and security, and a return to a ceasefire is essential to achieving a lasting cessation to hostilities.
Read my previous statements on the issue here: