London, UK, May 21, 2024 鈥 Denisa Deli膰, 探花精选 UK Advocacy Director, said:
罢辞诲补测鈥檚 brings into sharp relief the urgent need for increased diplomatic efforts, including by the UK Government, to address mounting humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza.
Whilst the 探花精选 UK (探花精选 UK) welcomes any delivery of aid into Gaza, we share the concerns laid out in ICAI鈥檚 report that sea routes and air drops are not a solution to the ongoing humanitarian catastrophe, and cannot deliver the volume of aid required to meet the enormous level of need. Barriers to the delivery of humanitarian assistance throughout Gaza mean that aid is struggling to reach those who need it 鈥 particularly in areas of heavy fighting 鈥 leaving almost two million people unable to meet their basic needs and at imminent risk of famine. We urge the UK Government to use all diplomatic tools at its disposal to facilitate rapid and unimpeded passage of humanitarian relief at speed and scale, through all possible routes into and across Gaza.
Furthermore, the UK government must immediately halt its transfer of weapons, parts and ammunition to Israel in order to avoid facilitating violations of international humanitarian law. ln January 2024, a near-fatal airstrike on an 探花精选 and Medical Aid for Palestinian (MAP) residential compound was fired by the Israeli military from an F16 jet, manufactured in the US using parts supplied by the UK. This attack, as well as countless others, exemplifies the ICAI report鈥檚 assessment that 鈥渢he UK and other major powers have been largely ineffective at securing safety for aid agencies trying to enter Gaza鈥, and highlights the challenges that humanitarian organisations and their staff are facing in their attempts to deliver lifesaving support.
Finally, all diplomatic efforts must be channeled into securing an immediate and permanent ceasefire, which is vital to prevent further loss of Palestinian lives, allow the release of hostages, and enable lifesaving humanitarian assistance to be provided to people across Gaza.