Lammy Urges Immediate Ceasefire During Israel Visit

David Lammy, the newly appointed Foreign Secretary, has called for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza during his first visit to Israel and the Palestinian Territories. “I’m here to push for a ceasefire,” he stated. “The loss of life over the last few months… is horrendous. It has to stop.”

In addition to advocating for a ceasefire, Mr. Lammy urged the release of all hostages held in Gaza and an increase in the flow of aid to the territory. On Sunday, he held talks with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian Authority PM Mohammad Mustafa. He also met with family members of hostages who have links to the UK.

Sharon Sharabi, whose two brothers Elie and Yossi were taken hostage on October 7, remarked after their meeting, “Mr. Lammy promised to do everything to bring the hostages home. The UK government has committed to be involved in a process with all the relevant sides.” The Israeli military reported in February that Yossi Sharabi was killed, likely by an IDF air strike, and his body remains in Gaza.

During his meeting with Mr. Mustafa, Mr. Lammy expressed the UK’s commitment to peace and stability, as stated by the British Consulate in Jerusalem. They discussed the importance of an effective Palestinian Authority in achieving peace, and Mr. Lammy reaffirmed support for Mr. Mustafa’s government and its reform programme.

On Monday morning, Mr. Lammy met with Israeli President Isaac Herzog. Ahead of their meeting, he emphasized the importance of conducting war according to international humanitarian law and stated his intention to press Israeli leaders on this issue.

Expressing frustration over the lack of British aid trucks entering Gaza, Mr. Lammy echoed complaints from aid agencies about deliveries being blocked or delayed by complex inspections imposed by the Israeli military. He described the humanitarian situation in Gaza as “appalling” and announced an additional £5.5 million in UK aid to medical charity UK-Med for its work in the territory.

Mr. Herzog introduced Mr. Lammy to the family of Tamir Adar, who was killed on October 7, and whose body was taken into Gaza, and to Yaffa, Tamir’s grandmother, who was taken hostage and later released.

Mr. Lammy also addressed the sales of arms, stating he would “look at the assessment and the legal considerations,” and promised to report to Parliament as soon as possible. Additionally, he indicated that he would make a statement about the future of UK funding to the UNRWA, the UN’s main agency providing aid in Gaza, in the coming days. The UK was among the countries that suspended funding to the agency in January over allegations of staff involvement in the October 7 attack.

According to the Hamas-run health ministry, at least 38,584 people have been killed in Gaza during Israel’s offensive. A UN-backed assessment last month highlighted a “high risk” of famine in the territory, with almost half a million people facing “catastrophic levels” of hunger. The ministry also reported at least 141 deaths in Israeli strikes since Saturday, with Israel claiming one of those strikes targeted senior Hamas leader Mohammed Deif.