Vulnerable Gazans must urgently be given full access to aid, UK
Minister for Development, said today [Wednesday 21 May]
on her first visit to Israel and the Occupied Palestinian
Territories in her role.
Following the Government's calls, together with partners, for
restrictions on aid access to be lifted, the UK has
announced £4m of new UK humanitarian support for Gazans as the
Minister reaffirms the UK's commitment to driving peace in
the region.
The visit comes the day after Foreign Secretary announced new sanctions hitting
violent West Bank settlers, paused free trade agreement
negotiations with Israel and called the Government of Israel's
actions ‘egregious' and ‘intolerable'.
On her visit the Development Minister will say the limited
restart of aid deliveries into Gaza is ‘simply not enough' and
she will urge the Israeli government to allow the unhindered
provision of aid. She will say the blockade has been appalling
and indefensible, particularly following an IPCreport noting the entire
population of Gaza is experiencing high levels of acute food
insecurity.
The Minister will announce new UK support during a visit to a Red
Crescent centre, highlighting that the UK stands ready to provide
the urgent aid to those who desperately need it, while expressing
frustration much of it cannot yet reach them.
Backing up words with action, the new UK support would cover
essential medicines and medical supplies for up to 32,000 people,
safe drinking water for up to 60,000 people, and food parcels for
up to 14,000 people.
Minister for Development, said:
The lack of aid reaching ordinary Gazans is appalling. The
Israeli government's failure to allow full humanitarian access to
aid workers is abhorrent. Far too few trucks are crossing into
Gaza. The UN has warned nearly half a million Palestinians,
including children, are facing starvation.
The UK is clear - Israel will not achieve security through
prolonging the suffering of the Palestinian people.
I have heard first hand from aid workers today of the abominable
impact of this behaviour on real families. The UK has today
pledged new support for Gazans but the brutal reality is most of
it is stuck in limbo.
We need to see an immediate ceasefire, the release of all
hostages, a surge of aid, and a path towards long-term peace.
During the first day of her visit (Wednesday, May 21), Minister
Chapman has met with Palestinian Justice Minister Sharhabeel
al-Zaeem, and talked to UNRWA representatives on resolving the
challenges in getting aid to Palestinian communities.
Tomorrow, she is due to meet the families of hostages cruelly
held by Hamas, where she will highlight the importance of an
immediate ceasefire and a negotiated end to the conflict which
secures their urgent release. This is the only way to deliver
long-term stability in the region, and at home, as part of the
Government's Plan for Change.
Background
- The £4 million contribution announced today will be made to
the British Red Cross to deliver humanitarian relief in Gaza
through their partner the Palestinian Red Crescent Society. This
support has been allocated from the £101 million set aside for
the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPTs) in financial year
2025-26, announced during the
official visit of Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammed Mustafa
to the UK.
- UK support to the OPTs since October 7, 2023, has so far
provided 405,000 patient consultations across Gaza, food aid to
at least 647,000 people, and improved water, sanitation and
hygiene services to almost 300,000 people.
- Photos from the visit will be available on FCDO
Flickr
- See here for the Foreign
Secretary's statement announcing sanctions on West Bank
violence network and the pause on negotiations for a free trade
agreement.
- See here for joint
statement from the leaders of the UK, France and Canada on the
situation in Gaza and the West Bank delivered on 19/05/2025.
- See here for joint
statement from UK and 26 other humanitarian partners delivered
on 19/05/2025.
