British Minister urges immediate ceasefire during Israel visit

By Alagbe Shenayon On Jul 15, 2024

During his first visit to Israel and the Palestinian Territories as foreign secretary, David Lammy called for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza.

“I’m here to push for a ceasefire,” he stated. “The loss of life over the last few months… is horrendous. It has to stop.”

Mr. Lammy also urged for the release of all hostages held in Gaza and an increase in the flow of aid to the territory.

On Sunday, the newly appointed minister held talks with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian Authority PM Mohammad Mustafa. He also met with family members of hostages still held in Gaza who have ties to the UK.

Sharon Sharabi, whose two brothers Elie and Yossi were taken hostage on October 7, said after the meeting, “Mr. Lammy promised to do everything to bring the hostages home. The UK government has committed to being involved in a process with all the relevant sides.”

In February, the Israeli military reported that Yossi Sharabi was killed, likely due to an IDF airstrike, and it is believed that his body remains in Gaza.

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In his meeting with Mr Mustafa, Mr Lammy said the UK would push for peace and stability, a statement posted on X by the British Consulate in Jerusalem said.

They discussed the role of an effective Palestinian Authority in achieving peace and Mr Lammy reaffirmed support for Mr Mustafa’s government and its programme of reform, the statement added.

On Monday morning, Mr Lammy met Israeli President Isaac Herzog.

“It’s important that, whilst we are in a war, that war is conducted according to international humanitarian law,” Mr Lammy said ahead of the meeting.

“Of course I will be pressing Israeli leaders on that subject over the coming days.”

The foreign secretary also expressed frustration over a lack of British aid trucks entering Gaza “after months and months of asking”, echoing long-running complaints from aid agencies about deliveries being blocked or delayed by complex inspections imposed by the Israeli military.

He said the humanitarian situation in Gaza was “appalling” and that the UK would be providing an additional £5.5m to medical charity UK-Med to fund its work in the territory.

After the meeting, Mr Herzog said they discussed “the supreme mission of returning the hostages home to their families”.

“The foreign secretary made clear that his country will continue to work and demand for the release of all the hostages,” he said.

Mr. Herzog mentioned that he introduced Mr. Lammy to the family of Tamir Adar, who was killed on October 7, and whose body was taken into Gaza. Adar’s grandmother, Yaffa, was taken hostage and later released as part of previous deals.

He added, “The bonds between the British and Israeli peoples are as strong and robust as they are historic and impactful – especially now, in facing the challenges ahead of us.”

The Labour Party has recently faced backlash from some Muslim voters over its response to the conflict, which many consider insufficiently critical of Israel.

The new government now faces decisions on several key issues, including whether to limit or stop weapons sales to Israel due to the loss of civilian life.

When asked about the sales, Mr. Lammy said he would “look at the assessment and the legal considerations.”

“That process has begun and I hope to report to Parliament as soon as I possibly can,” he added.

He also mentioned that he would soon make a statement regarding the future of UK funding to the UNRWA, the UN’s primary agency providing aid in Gaza.

In January, the UK, along with more than a dozen other countries, suspended funding to the agency due to allegations that several staff members were involved in the October 7 attack. The UK is one of the few countries yet to restore funding.

Labour has pledged to recognize the Palestinian state but has not specified when this will happen.

Israel launched its operation in Gaza following the Hamas attack last October, which resulted in around 1,200 deaths and 251 hostages being taken.

Mr. Netanyahu has stated that Israel will continue its campaign until all hostages are released and Hamas is destroyed.

According to the Hamas-run health ministry, at least 38,584 people have been killed in Gaza during Israel’s offensive. A UN-backed assessment last month indicated a “high risk” of famine in the territory, with almost half a million people facing “catastrophic levels” of hunger.

The ministry also reported that at least 141 people had been killed in Israeli strikes since Saturday. Israel claimed that one of those strikes, which hit a humanitarian zone, was targeting senior Hamas leader Mohammed Deif.

Deif, head of Hamas’s military wing the al-Qassam Brigades, is one of Israel’s most wanted individuals and is believed to be one of the masterminds behind the October 7 attacks.