Government Supports Humanitarian ‘Pauses’ in Gaza Instead of Ceasefire
The Prime Minister Rishi Sunak called for ‘specific pauses’ to allow the inflow of aids and the outflow of hostages and foreign nationals but declined to back a ceasefire.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said “specific pauses” are needed in Gaza to allow the flow of humanitarian aid, fleeing hostages and foreign nationals, but stressed he was not calling for a ceasefire.
Downing Street said “a wholesale ceasefire would only serve to benefit Hamas.”
The prime minister made the remarks on humanitarian “pauses” after Social Democratic and Labour Party MP Colum Eastwood urged him to call for a ceasefire and “tell Israel to stop meting out collective punishment to the people of Gaza.”
Related Stories
Mr. Sunak responded, “As I said, an important principle is that Israel does have the right to defend itself under international law, to ensure that attacks like this one—which was brutal and horrific for its citizens—cannot happen again.”
The Israel-Hamas war began on Oct.7 after Hamas terrorists launched missiles toward Israel, raped, slaughtered, and kidnapped civilians in their homes and at a music festival.
Mr. Sunak said the UK “continue to support” Israel’s right to defend itself, but also wants to have a humanitarian corridor.
“We recognise that that means there has to be a safer environment, which, of course, necessitates specific pauses, as distinct from a ceasefire,” he said, adding that the UK discussed this at the U.N. on Tuesday.
The prime minister’s spokesperson said: “A wholesale ceasefire would only serve to benefit Hamas.
“Humanitarian pauses, which are temporary, which are limited in scope, can be an operational tool.”
Meanwhile
Source link
