The United Kingdom has suspended its ongoing trade negotiations with Israel in response to what it calls an “unjustifiable” blockade of humanitarian aid to Gaza. British Foreign Secretary David Lammy made the announcement Tuesday in the House of Commons, sharply criticizing Israel’s restriction of aid deliveries amid a worsening humanitarian crisis.
“The blockade is morally wrong, unjustifiable, and it needs to stop,” Lammy told lawmakers, adding that the Israeli ambassador had been summoned for discussions. He emphasized that all members of Parliament should be able to “utterly condemn the Israeli government’s denial of food to hungry children.”
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer also addressed the crisis, calling for an immediate ceasefire and condemning the ongoing suffering of civilians in Gaza. “The level of suffering, innocent children being bombed again, is utterly intolerable,” he said, warning that the humanitarian situation had reached a breaking point.
Starmer reaffirmed Britain’s opposition to Israeli settlement expansion in the West Bank and called for a significant increase in humanitarian assistance. “The recent announcement that Israel will allow a basic quantity of food into Gaza is totally and utterly inadequate,” he said. “We must coordinate our response, because this war has gone on for far too long. We cannot allow the people of Gaza to starve.”
This latest move comes a day after Britain, France, and Canada issued a joint warning to Israel, threatening further action unless it halts its renewed military campaign and lifts restrictions on aid.
Israel had cut off the entry of goods into Gaza on March 2 following the lapse of a ceasefire agreement with Hamas, and resumed attacks on March 18. According to Gaza-based health authorities, more than 3,300 people have been killed and over 9,350 injured since the renewed offensive began.
In an apparent response to mounting international pressure, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Sunday that Israel would permit a “minimal and basic” quantity of aid into Gaza to prevent images of mass starvation. On Monday, five UN aid trucks entered Gaza through the Kerem Shalom border crossing following security checks.
Despite this, British leaders have insisted that more must be done to address the humanitarian crisis, with Starmer stressing that the status quo is no longer tenable.
Written By Rodney Mbua
