PM says aid needs to get to the Strip ‘in volume and at scale’ – as aerial footage showed the scale of the destruction after almost 22 months of war and Israeli bombardment
Brits have a “sense of revulsion” over images of starvation in Gaza and the awful situation on the ground, Keir Starmer has said.
The Prime Minister warned aid needs to get to the Strip “in volume and at scale” – as aerial footage showed the scale of the destruction after almost 22 months of war and Israeli bombardment.
It comes as Israel’s PM Benjamin Netanyahu looks set to convene his security cabinet on Thursday amid reports he is considering a “full occupation” of Gaza. Last week a top MP said Mr Netanyahu ‘completely lost it’ with angry response to Mr Starmer.
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Mr Starmer, who is pushing for a ceasefire, told 5 News the UK has to do “all that we can to alleviate the awful situation, situation on the ground in Gaza”. He said: “We need aid in volume and at scale. You could see the images of starvation. The British public can see it and there’s a sense of revulsion of what they’re seeing.
“And they want this government quite rightly to do everything we can to include, to do as much to get aid in working with other countries as we can. And it’s in that context that I set out our position on recognition.”
It comes after Mr Starmer said last week the UK will recognise the state of Palestine in September unless Israel agrees to conditions, including a ceasefire, in Gaza. The move prompted fury from Mr Netanyahu and some of the relatives of hostages who have been held by Hamas in Gaza since the October 7, 2023, attacks on Israel.
At a meeting of the UN on Tuesday, the US ambassador Dorothy Shea, appeared to criticise countries taking to steps to recognise Palestine. She said: “At a time when pressure on Hamas is more necessary than ever to free the hostages and end the war, some have instead taken steps that embolden Hamas and undermine the negotiators’ efforts.
“We must be clear that unproductive publicity stunts like last week’s Two-State Solution conference and unilateral announcements regarding recognition of a Palestinian state undercut the efforts of mediators and prolong the war.”
On Wednesday the PM insisted the move was not a propaganda boost to Hamas, saying the “terrorist organisation” could play “no part in any future government”. Asked if he had given Hamas a public relations boost by talking about recognition, he said: “They should release the hostages straight away and they should play absolutely no part in the governance of Palestine at any point.”
He said they had been held for a “very, very long time in awful circumstances, unimaginable circumstances, and Hamas is a terrorist organisation, and that’s why I’m really clear about Hamas”.
On Wednesday the Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey urged Mr Starmer to pick up the phone to Donald Trump over the conflict. He said: “Netanyahu’s reprehensible proposal to occupy all of Gaza will only further devastate Gazans and endanger the hostages still held by Hamas. The Prime Minister must urgently pick up the phone to President Trump and press him to make Netanyahu abandon this plan.”
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