Thank you very much, Senior Humanitarian Coordinator, for your
briefing.
As you said, Israel suffered the worst terror attack in its
history at the hands of Hamas. More than 200 days on and Hamas
continues to hold hostages. Palestinian civilians in Gaza
are facing a devastating and growing humanitarian crisis and face
the risk of famine.
The UK is joining USG Kaag's important efforts to prevent this
situation deteriorating even further. We trebled our aid
commitment in the last financial year and we are doing everything
we can to get more aid in as quickly as possible by land, sea and
air - and to contribute to the paradigm shift that you
mentioned.
I want to highlight three areas.
First, we welcome Israel's commitment to increase aid flows into
Gaza. For example, the delivery of humanitarian aid through the
Port of Ashdod and the Erez checkpoint and extending the opening
hours of the Kerem Shalom crossing. We now need to see more
implementation. There has been some welcome progress in this
regard, but much more needs to be done. Our Foreign Secretary
reiterated this to Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu on his visit
to Israel last week.
Second, as well as getting more aid in, it needs to be
the right aid.
That is why resolution 2720 is so important. The UK fully
supports Sigrid Kaag's mandate to establish a database and
mechanism to track, verify and coordinate aid. The UK has
provided expert technical support to help delivery of this
mandate. And the UK will be providing over $3.5 million of
additional funding for equipment to support the UN and aid
agencies get more aid into Gaza.
Third, once humanitarian aid arrives in Gaza, it is vital that it
can be distributed quickly and effectively. We are calling on
Israel to improve deconfliction and to allow UN agencies and
humanitarian actors unhindered and safe access into and
throughout Gaza, and to enable the UN's minimum operating
requirements fully. The tragic deaths of 7 World Central Kitchen
workers, including three British citizens, demonstrates the need
for action.
President, the UK recognises that UNRWA is critical to aid
delivery in Gaza. We were appalled by the allegations that UNRWA
staff were involved in the 7 October attacks against Israel and
we note the ongoing UN Office for Internal Oversight Services
investigation into these allegations.
We are grateful for the independent review into UNRWA neutrality
led by Catherine Colonna, and we will set out our position on
future funding to UNRWA following careful consideration of the
final report and UNRWA's response.
President, the UK remains resolved to working with international
partners to urgently secure an immediate pause to get aid in and
the hostages out, and then to work for a sustainable, permanent
ceasefire without a return to fighting and loss of life.
Thank you.
