Recent images suggest Israel has been preparing sites in Gaza for potential aid distribution, with cleared land, new roads, and staging areas constructed in southern and central Gaza in the ongoing conflict.
However, aid has yet to reach civilians, with the UN reporting 100 aid trucks waiting at the border for clearance. Despite this development, Britain’s stance on Israel’s actions in Gaza has shifted, with Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and Foreign Secretary David Lammy expressing genuine anger.
Starmer stated he was “horrified” by Israel’s decision to escalate its military campaign, while Lammy emphasized that Israel’s actions are isolating the country from friends and partners worldwide, “damaging the image of the State of Israel in the eyes of the world”.
The international community’s disapproval is evident, with even US President Donald Trump expressing impatience, warning that “a lot of people are starving”.
The UK’s position on the conflict has evolved, with Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s spokesperson announcing the UK would drop objections to the ICC prosecutor’s request for arrest warrants against Benjamin Netanyahu and Yoav Gallant.
The situation on the ground is dire, with aid agencies reporting congestion at Rafah and Kerem Shalom crossings, and fuel shortages hindering aid distribution. Martin Griffiths noted that “not a single truckload of UN-coordinated aid has been delivered to Gaza’s population in the past 10 days, linked to symptoms of starvation”.
Mahmoud Suleiman shared a grim reality, “We hear aid is at the border, but nothing. People begging for food. Children consume grass”.
The UK’s relationship with Israel during the Gaza conflict has been complex. Initially, the UK provided Israel with military and diplomatic support. However, the UK has since abstained from UN Security Council resolutions calling for humanitarian pauses to allow aid into Gaza.
The growing frustration isn’t unique to the UK; the EU is reviewing its association agreement with Israel, and a joint statement with France and Canada condemned Israel’s military actions.
The humanitarian crisis in Gaza requires immediate attention. The UN has raised alarm bells about the humanitarian disaster in Gaza, with two million people, including children, on the brink of starvation.
Aid agencies are struggling to access humanitarian aid due to conflict, impassable roads, and fuel shortages. The situation demands a concerted effort to facilitate aid delivery and protect humanitarian workers.