David Lammy called for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza during his first visit to Israel and the Palestinian Territories as Foreign Secretary.
“I’m here to push for a ceasefire,” he said. “The loss of life over the last few months… is horrible. It has to stop.”
Lammy also called for the release of all hostages held in Gaza and an increase in the flow of aid to the territory.
The newly elected minister held talks with the Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian Authority Prime Minister Mohammad Mustafa on Sunday.
Later, he is expected to meet Israeli President Isaac Herzog and the families of some hostages with links to the United Kingdom.
“It is important that while we are at war, that war is conducted in accordance with international humanitarian law,” Lammy said.
“Of course, I will press Israeli leaders on this issue in the coming days.”
The Foreign Secretary also expressed frustration at the lack of British aid trucks entering Gaza “after months and months of requests”, echoing long-standing complaints from aid agencies about deliveries blocked or delayed by complex military-imposed inspections. Israelites.
He said the humanitarian situation in Gaza was “dire” and that the UK would provide an additional £5.5 million to medical charity UK-Med to fund its work in the territory.
The Labor Party has recently faced a backlash from some Muslim voters over its response to the conflict, which many consider insufficiently critical of Israel.
The new government now faces decisions on several important issues, including whether to limit or halt arms sales to Israel due to the loss of civilian life.
Asked about the sales, Lammy said he would “look at the valuation and legal considerations”.
“This process has already begun and I hope to report to Parliament as soon as possible,” he added.
He also said he would make a statement on the future of UK funding to UNRWA – the main UN agency providing aid in Gaza – in the coming days.
The UK was among more than a dozen countries that suspended funding to the agency in January due to allegations that several staff members were involved in the October 7 attack, and is one of the few that has not yet reinstated it.
Labor has also committed to recognizing the Palestinian state, although it has not yet said when it will do so.
Israel launched its operation in Gaza following the Hamas attack last October, which resulted in the deaths of around 1,200 people and the taking of 251 hostages.
Netanyahu said Israel will continue its war until all hostages are freed and Hamas is destroyed.
At least 38,584 people were killed in Gaza during Israel’s offensive, according to the Hamas-run health ministry. A UN-supported assessment last month found there was a “high risk” of famine in the territory, with almost half a million people facing “catastrophic levels” of hunger.
The ministry also said at least 141 people were killed in Israeli attacks since Saturday. Israel said one of those attacks, which hit a humanitarian zone, targeted a senior Hamas leader.
