has responded to changes
announced by Israel to allow for more aid access into Gaza by
opening Ashdod port for aid and the Erez checkpoint.
In his statement, Foreign Secretary said:
Israel has today committed to significant steps to increase the
amount of aid getting to Gaza. This includes:
- Allowing the delivery of humanitarian aid through the Port of
Ashdod and the Erez checkpoint.
- Increasing the total number of aid trucks to at least 500 a
day.
- Increasing capacity through the Jordan land corridor to 100
trucks a day.
- Extending the opening hours of the Kerem Shalom crossing.
- Approving more types of aid, including fuel to enable more
bakeries to open and hospitals to function.
- Approving activation of the Nachal Oz water pipeline to
northern Gaza once repairs are completed.
The UK has urged Israel to take these steps for a long time and
they are welcome.
This morning, I spoke to the UN's Gaza Humanitarian and
Reconstruction Co-ordinator, Sigrid Kaag. We are resolved that
the international community will work with Israel to see these
vital changes fully implemented.
While these commitments represent significant progress, we must
see further action to ensure more aid actually gets over the
border.
I'm calling on Israel to make progress on the following
additional action:
- A major change in the conduct of hostilities to protect
civilians.
- Reform of Israel's deconfliction mechanism to ensure the
safety of aid workers.
- Progress on the UN's minimal operating requirements,
including more visas and driver approvals granted, as well as
more trucks permitted to cross into Gaza.
The situation in Gaza is dire and the entire population faces the
prospect of famine without urgent change.
The UK has more than trebled its aid commitment to the Occupied
Palestinian Territories this year, and we're working to get aid
through these new humanitarian routes as soon as possible.
Ultimately, we need an immediate humanitarian pause to ramp up
aid delivery, save lives and get hostages out.
