In his first visit to Israel and the Palestinian Territories as foreign secretary, David Lammy has called for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza.
“I’m here to push for a ceasefire,” Lammy stated. “The loss of life over the last few months… is horrendous. It has to stop.”
During his visit, Lammy also urged the release of all hostages held in Gaza and an increase in the flow of aid to the territory. He held talks with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian Authority PM Mohammad Mustafa on Sunday. Additionally, he met with family members of hostages still held in Gaza who have ties to the UK.
Sharon Sharabi, whose two brothers Elie and Yossi were taken hostage on October 7, expressed that “Mr. Lammy promised to do everything to bring the hostages home. The UK government has committed to being involved in a process with all the relevant sides.” It is believed that Yossi Sharabi was killed in an IDF air strike, and his body remains in Gaza.
In his meeting with Mr. Mustafa, Lammy expressed the UK’s commitment to pushing for peace and stability, according to a statement from the British Consulate in Jerusalem. They discussed the importance of an effective Palestinian Authority in achieving peace, and Lammy reaffirmed support for Mustafa’s government and its reform programs.
On Monday morning, Lammy met with Israeli President Isaac Herzog. Ahead of the meeting, he emphasized the importance of conducting war according to international humanitarian law and said he would be pressing Israeli leaders on this subject in the coming days.
Lammy also voiced frustration over the lack of British aid trucks entering Gaza, echoing long-standing complaints from aid agencies about delivery blockages caused by complex inspections imposed by the Israeli military. He described the humanitarian situation in Gaza as “appalling” and announced that the UK would provide an additional £5.5 million to medical charity UK-Med for its work in the territory.
President Herzog noted that they discussed the mission of returning the hostages home and that the UK would continue to advocate for their release. Herzog introduced Lammy to the family of Tamir Adar, who was killed on October 7 and whose body was taken into Gaza.
The Labour Party has recently faced criticism from some Muslim voters over its response to the conflict, which many perceive as insufficiently critical of Israel. The new government is now confronted with decisions on key issues, including whether to limit or stop weapons sales to Israel due to civilian casualties.
Lammy indicated he would review the assessment and legal considerations regarding arms sales and hoped to report to Parliament soon. He also mentioned 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 one of several countries that suspended funding to the UNRWA in January following allegations that some staff members were involved in the October 7 attack. Labour has also pledged to recognize the Palestinian state, though a specific timeline has not been provided.
Israel launched its operation in Gaza following the October 7 Hamas attack, which resulted in approximately 1,200 deaths and 251 hostages. Netanyahu has stated that Israel will continue its war until all hostages are released and Hamas is destroyed.
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 indicated a “high risk” of famine in the territory, with almost half a million people facing “catastrophic levels” of hunger. The ministry also reported that at least 141 people had been killed in Israeli strikes since Saturday.
