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Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer is expected to address the situation in Gaza during his meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump in Scotland on Monday.
Sir Keir is anticipated to express support for U.S. efforts aimed at securing a ceasefire in Gaza and will likely discuss further actions to expedite its implementation.
Negotiations in Qatar regarding a ceasefire and hostage release had previously stalled this week following the withdrawal of U.S. and Israeli negotiating teams.
Israel is facing increasing pressure from allied nations, with aid organizations cautioning about widespread starvation and having previously criticized plans to deliver supplies via air drops into Gaza.
On Sunday morning, Israel reported dropping seven packages containing sugar, flour, and canned food into Gaza. The UAE, Jordan, and Egypt are also in the process of delivering aid by land and air; however, agencies assert that this is insufficient to adequately address the prevalent malnutrition.
Sir Keir will convene the cabinet in the coming week, during Parliament’s recess, to deliberate on the continuing situation in Gaza.
This follows his confirmation that his government is collaborating with Jordan to deliver aid into the territory and is “urgently accelerating efforts” to evacuate children requiring critical medical assistance to the UK.
Speaking on BBC Breakfast on Sunday, government minister James Murray described the situation in Gaza as “utterly horrifying and appalling.”
“Starvation, access to food, must never be used as a means of war. It’s completely unjustifiable and it must end,” he stated.
Foreign Secretary David Lammy noted that while airdrops could “alleviate the worst of the suffering,” Israel must permit “unhindered” access for aid lorries, emphasizing that they are the “only viable and sustainable” method for delivering adequate supplies to the affected population.
According to the Hamas-run health ministry, at least 127 people in Gaza have died from malnutrition since the onset of the conflict.
Israel ceased all supplies to Gaza at the beginning of March, initiating an 11-week blockade. Distribution of aid resumed on May 27 through the newly established and controversial U.S.-Israeli backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF).
The GHF system has faced widespread criticism for compelling large numbers of people to traverse active combat zones to reach a limited number of distribution sites.
The UN reports that over 1,000 Palestinians have been killed while attempting to retrieve food aid from GHF sites since its inception. Israel maintains that the new distribution system prevents aid from reaching Hamas and denies any restrictions are in place.
Meanwhile, President Trump arrived in Scotland on Friday and has been golfing at his Turnberry course in South Ayrshire, where he is also scheduled to meet EU chief Ursula von der Leyen on Sunday.
Scotland’s First Minister John Swinney is also scheduled to hold a meeting with the U.S. president during his visit.
Last week, President Trump stated that Hamas “didn’t really want to make a deal” regarding a new Gaza ceasefire agreement.
In a statement announcing the withdrawal of the U.S. team from Doha, U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff said: “Hamas does not appear to be co-ordinated or acting in good faith.”
“We will now consider alternative options to bring the hostages home and try to create a more stable environment for the people of Gaza,” he added.
Sir Keir has been under pressure both domestically and internationally to recognize a Palestinian state, following French President Emmanuel Macron’s commitment to do so within months and a letter signed by over a third of MPs urging the British government to follow suit.
The SNP has also announced plans to introduce a bill in September to compel a vote on statehood.
On Sunday, Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch affirmed that the Tories have “always supported” a two-state solution – a political framework based on two separate states safeguarding the rights of Palestinians and the security of Israelis.
However, she argued that now is not the appropriate time to recognize a Palestinian state, as it would “reward” Hamas after “carrying out one of the worst atrocities in recent memory.”
The Israeli military initiated a campaign in Gaza in response to the Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, which resulted in approximately 1,200 deaths and the taking of 251 hostages.
According to the territory’s Hamas-run health ministry, at least 59,676 people have been killed in Gaza since then.
The U.S. President greeted Ursula von der Leyen at his luxury Turnberry resort ahead of a potential trade agreement.
President Trump played a round of golf at Turnberry on Saturday, while hundreds of protesters gathered in Aberdeen and Edinburgh.
This may indicate a tacit acknowledgement from the Israelis that more action is required, or it may be a response to pressure from allies.
This comes after U.S. President Donald Trump urged both sides to pursue a ceasefire.
Israel has announced that aid convoys will be permitted into Gaza, following weeks of escalating pressure and warnings of starvation.
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