Published 18 October 2023
Last updated 19 October 2023 — See all updates
-
plans to meet leaders in
Egypt, Turkey and Qatar over the next 3 days to help prevent
the conflict spreading across the region and to seek a peaceful
resolution
- he will push for agreement on humanitarian access to Gaza,
the release of British hostages and foreign nationals, and
securing safe passage for British nationals to leave Gaza
- visit follows £10 million increase in UK aid funding for
Occupied Palestinian Territories
The Foreign Secretary today (18 October) begins a multi-country
visit across the Middle East, as the UK works urgently to help
prevent the conflict spreading across the region, while working
towards a peaceful resolution.
is planning to meet senior
leaders in Egypt, Turkey and Qatar over the next 3 days, where he
will discuss coordination on efforts to avoid a spillover in
violence which would devastate the wider region.
The trip has been planned to countries which are vital to
international efforts to uphold regional stability, free hostages
and allow humanitarian access to Gaza, with all 3 vital
interlocutors in the Middle East. The Foreign Secretary will
discuss the urgent need for the Rafah crossing to open so that
lifesaving aid can reach those who need it and for Hamas to
release the hostages.
Foreign Secretary said:
It is in no one’s interests – neither Israeli, Palestinian nor
the wider Middle East – for others to be drawn into this
conflict.
I am meeting counterparts from influential states in the region
to push for calm and stability, facilitate humanitarian access
into Gaza and work together to secure the release of hostages.
Since the Hamas attacks on 7 October, the Prime Minister and
Foreign Secretary have spoken to counterparts from almost 20
countries as part of extensive diplomatic efforts to sustain the
prospect of peace and stability in the Middle East.
Earlier this week, a £10 million aid package
was announced by the Prime Minister in response to the escalating
conflict in Gaza – with funding now being made available to
agencies helping vulnerable civilians in the Occupied Palestinian
Territories (OPTs).
This is an increase of more than a third on existing UK support
to the OPTs. Half the new
funding will support an appeal by the UN Relief and Works Agency
for Palestine (UNRWA), which is responding to critical food,
water, health, shelter and protection needs in Gaza.
The UK remains committed to mitigating the deteriorating
humanitarian situation in Gaza and calling for international
humanitarian law to be respected, while standing alongside the
people of Israel against the terrorist group Hamas.
Last week the Foreign Secretary was the first foreign minister to
visit the site of Hamas’s attacks on Israel.
