Addressing members of the House of Commons, Sunak announced £10 million in humanitarian aid funding for civilians in the Occupied Palestinian Territories in response to the escalating Israel-Gaza conflict…reports Asian Lite News
The prime minister supported the Two State Solution, offering a new aid of £10 million besides steps to avoid escalation of violence.
“The United Kingdom Government’s long-standing position under both parties has been that the United Kingdom will recognise a Palestinian state at a time when it best serves the object of peace. We are committed to the objective of a sovereign, prosperous and peaceful Palestinian state living side by side with a safe and secure Israel. As last week’s attack demonstrates, right now we must ensure that Israel has that security,” Sunak said.
Sunak delivered a statement to reiterate the UK’s condemnation of Hamas’ actions in both Israel and Gaza, and called for immediate access for humanitarian organisations to be allowed to deliver life-saving aid.
“Israel was founded not just as a homeland for the Jewish people, but as a guarantor of their security, to ensure that what happened in the holocaust could never happen again. Through its strength and resilience, Israel gradually achieved some of that longed-for security, despite the strategic threats on its borders, including Hezbollah in the north with Iran at its back. Israel normalised relations with the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain through the Abraham accords, and moved towards normalising ties with Saudi Arabia—steps that were considered unthinkable not long ago,” Sunak said.
He described the Hamas strikes on Israel on October 7 as a “pogrom” – an act of organised torture or killing of a large group of people on the basis of their race or religion.
“We should call it by its name: it was a pogrom,” Sunak said.
He said the UK is also exploring options for moving humanitarian supplies closer to the region and is liaising with aid agencies in the region to ensure relief supplies can be distributed as quickly and effectively as possible.
“I’m proud that we are a longstanding and significant provider of humanitarian aid to the Palestinian people. And I can announce today that we are increasing our aid by a third, with an additional £10 million of support,” said Sunak.
“An acute humanitarian crisis is unfolding, to which we must respond. We must support the Palestinian people – because they’re victims of Hamas too,” he said.
The government said the funding will allow trusted partners, including key United Nations (UN) agencies to provide essential relief items and services. These could include food, water and emergency shelter, depending on the needs on the ground.
“We are committed to supporting the Palestinian people – they are victims of Hamas too. This funding will provide vital, lifesaving support to Palestinian civilians who are caught up in this conflict and are in desperate need of help,” said UK Foreign Secretary James Cleverly.
Meanwhile, Opposition Labour leader Keir Starmer agreed that an “acute humanitarian crisis” is unfolding and Israel’s defence “must be conducted in accordance with international law”, as he noted that the Commons stands united in the face of this international crisis.
PM visits Jewish school
Meanwhile, Sunak on Monday visited a Jewish school here and reiterated his government’s commitment to protect Britain’s Jews from antisemitic attacks amid the ongoing Israel-Gaza conflict.
The British Indian leader also stressed that Israel’s operations must centre on Hamas to avoid an escalation of conflict in the region. He pointed to the spy planes deployed by the UK to the eastern Mediterranean region to monitor and prevent arms shipments from landing in wrong hands.
“I’m determined to ensure that our Jewish community is able to feel safe on our streets, that there is no place in our society for antisemitism, and we will do everything we can to stamp it out and where it happens,” said Sunak during his visit to the Jewish school in north London.
He attended an assembly at the secondary school before answering a few questions from those present.
“I stand with all of you, the Jewish community, not just today, tomorrow but always, and I really mean it. Like many of you, I am different; I come from a different background, and our society is strongest when that diversity is respected. There are people who are trying to stir up hatred and division, and I will always strive very hard to protect that diversity,” he said.
“We’ve already sent surveillance aircraft to the eastern Mediterranean last week. They will be able to, as I said, make sure that no arms shipments, for example, have been sent to other terrorist organisations in the region. That’s a practical step that we can take to help ensure that this remains contained to dealing with Hamas and does not spread more broadly in the region,” he added.
“Today I met students and staff at a Jewish school in London to show my solidarity with the community. I am doing everything in my power to keep Jewish people in the UK safe, including through extra @CST_UK funding,” Sunak said in a post on social media platform X.
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