British Ministers are slated to hold an emergency committee meeting on the ongoing Israel-Hamas war.
UK’s Deputy Prime Minister, Oliver Dowden, disclosed that he would chair the meeting, scheduled for Thursday, October 26, 2023, with figures from the Foreign Office, Ministry of Defence and Cabinet Office.
He noted that there had been “some success” in delivering aid to civilians in Gaza who were lacking food, water or medicines, but that international negotiations were continuing, to try to reach those still in need.
Britain has resisted calls for a total ceasefire. Nonetheless, Dowden stated that the country is pushing for specific pauses in fighting, which would be time and location specific, to allow aid agencies to deliver items such as water filters and medical kits.
“The reason why we don’t support a wider ceasefire is one just has to understand the position of people in Israel,” Dowden disclosed.
“If it had been the case in the UK that a group of terrorists had entered and indiscriminately sought to murder over 1,000 people, there would be demands that we remove this threat.
“And it is perfectly legitimate for the Israeli government, in exercise of its self-defence, to remove the threat to its people, whilst, of course, respecting international law, as we have made the case to the Israelis and to others.”
Oliver Dowden
Dowden added that the COBRA meeting would bring “different bits of government together to understand what further steps we can do and to assess the current situation.”
Israeli hostages and Palestinian aid were high on the agenda. Five UK nationals remain missing, some of whom are believed to be hostages in Gaza.
“It is about ensuring we have cross-governmental ministerial grip on this situation,” Dowden said.
More than 80 Members of Parliament have urged the UK government to call for a cessation of violence.
Sunak In Support Of Humanitarian Pause Not Ceasefire
British Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak supports a humanitarian pause in the conflict in Gaza between Israel and Hamas to allow the safe delivery of aid to civilians.
However, he has rejected calls for a full ceasefire.
Sunak told lawmakers at a weekly parliamentary question and answer session on Wednesday, October 25, 2023, that Israel has the right to respond militarily to Hamas’s attack.
The Prime Minister also said the government wanted Hamas to release Israeli hostages, help Britons leave Gaza, and ensure humanitarian aid could make it to those in need.
“We recognise for all of that to happen, there has to be a safer environment, which of course necessitates specific pauses – as distinct from a ceasefire,” Sunak said.
Sunak added that Britain had discussed a possible humanitarian pause with other countries at the United Nations, as he announced that an RAF plane was flying to Egypt with 21 tonnes of humanitarian supplies.
Keir Starmer, leader of the opposition Labour Party, is supportive of the call for specific pauses.
Starmer said aid must get in to Gaza to meet a “humanitarian emergency on the ground.”
“That’s why we have repeatedly said that aid, fuel, water, electricity and medicines must be urgently ramped up,” Starmer said in a statement.
He added, “It is incumbent on all parties to make sure that the aid and utilities don’t just get in but reach those who need them.”
READ ALSO: Lured To Death By Illusion Of Safety
