Government commits £19 million in humanitarian aid for Gaza
The UK’s total commitment for the occupied Palestinian territories has now reached £99 million with the fresh funding pledge.
Describing the ongoing Israeli assault on Gaza as “catastrophic,” a minister announced that the UK will provide an additional £19 million in funding for the region.
International development minister Anneliese Dodds will visit the Occupied Palestinian Territories and Israel as part of a three-day trip, starting with a humanitarian conference in Cairo.
This latest funding brings the UK’s total commitment for Gaza to £99 million, including £12 million for the UN’s Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs and the World Food Programme.
Dodds plans to meet with Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Mustafa, visit a refugee camp in the West Bank, and urge Israeli officials to ensure aid reaches Gaza during her trip.
She will also meet with families of hostages with UK connections in Israel, calling for the release of hostages taken by Hamas last October.
‘Catastrophic’
Dodds stated, “The situation in Gaza is catastrophic. Gazans are in desperate need of food and shelter, especially with the onset of winter.”
She emphasized the importance of the Cairo conference in finding real-world solutions to the humanitarian crisis.
The UK is committed to supporting vulnerable communities in the region by providing additional funding for UNRWA and supporting Palestinian Authority reforms.
Dodds will discuss removing impediments, achieving a ceasefire, freeing hostages, and finding a lasting solution to the conflict with her counterparts in Israel and the OPTs.
Protests Continue
Over the weekend, pro-Palestinian protesters gathered in London to call for a ceasefire, while counter-protesters urged the Palestine Solidarity Campaign marchers to stop supporting violence.
The Metropolitan Police warned against expressing support for Hamas or Hezbollah, both designated as terror organizations.
Last week, a 60-day truce between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon was announced, with both sides withdrawing from southern Lebanon.
Arrest warrants were issued by the International Criminal Court for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, his former defence minister, and Hamas’s military chief for crimes against humanity in connection with the Gaza war.
The UK will respect the legal process in accordance with domestic legislation regarding the arrest warrant, Downing Street confirmed.
PA Media contributed to this article.
