Foreign Secretary David Cameron, at Lancaster House, emphasized the crucial role of humanitarian efforts in Gaza following the Israel-Hamas agreement on hostage releases and a brief ceasefire. The UK, according to an official statement issued by the British government, commits to close collaboration with Arab and Islamic nations to address the crisis.
Discussions mainly centered on releasing hostages, increasing aid to Gaza, and pursuing a lasting political solution. The Foreign Secretary reiterated support for a two-state solution, condemned West Bank settler violence, and promised ongoing UK assistance to prevent regional escalation in Lebanon and Yemen.
The Peace Committee
This was formed during an Arab Islamic Summit, visited London with leaders from Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Egypt, the Palestinian Authority, Turkey, Indonesia, Nigeria, the League of Arab States, and Qatar. The UK, actively responding to the humanitarian crisis, recently announced £30 million in additional aid to the Occupied Palestinian Territories, effectively doubling the existing commitment for the year. This aid solidifies the UK’s role in leading the international response to the crisis.
Foreign Ministers from Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Egypt, the Palestinian Authority, Turkey, Indonesia, and Nigeria, as well as the Secretary-General of the League of Arab States and Ambassador of Qatar attended the event in London. The group is visiting the capitals of Permanent Members of the UN Security Council, arriving in London after meetings in Beijing and Moscow, with further travel planned to Paris and Washington.
The visit of the Ministerial Committee followed an agreement reached overnight between Israel and Hamas on coordinated hostage releases and a pause in the fighting. According to the statement, the Foreign Secretary discussed with leaders at the meeting how to reinvigorate diplomatic efforts towards a viable two-state solution, which provides security for both Israelis and Palestinians, and restated the UK’s condemnation of the rise in settler violence in the West Bank.
He committed to continued UK support to prevent wider regional escalation, including in Lebanon and Yemen. Foreign Secretary David Cameron said: “The agreement reached last night is an important opportunity to get the hostages out and more aid into Gaza to help the Palestinian people.” Adding that the two sides discussed how to use this step to build a peaceful future which provides security for Israel but also peace and stability for the Palestinian people.
The UK has helped lead the international response to the humanitarian crisis, by recently announcing £30 million in additional aid to the Occupied Palestinian Territories on 23 October – more than doubling the existing aid commitment for this year (£27 million).