STORY
The United Kingdom today issued a fervent plea for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza at a UN Security Council meeting, co-convened with Denmark, France, Greece and Slovenia. Ambassador Barbara Woodward, UK Permanent Representative to the UN, delivered a stark message, highlighting the escalating humanitarian catastrophe and the urgent need for a resolution to the conflict.
“With each day that passes, the hostages suffer yet more agony, in appalling conditions and deprived from contact with their loved ones. And with each day that passes, the people of Gaza suffer death, desperation and displacement,” Ambassador Woodward stated, marking 650 days since the horrific Hamas attacks of 7 October. She stressed that the conflict has persisted “far too long” and that “there is a deal to be done.” The UK urged all parties to engage in a spirit of compromise to secure an immediate ceasefire, the release of all hostages, and a pathway towards lasting peace.
Ambassador Woodward outlined three critical points. Firstly, she underscored the imperative for Israel to lift its restrictions on aid entering Gaza. She warned that without fuel, water systems and hospitals are on the verge of collapse, treatable illnesses are costing lives due to a lack of medical supplies, and Palestinians are dying from malnutrition or desperately scrambling for food. The UK called on Israel to allow the UN to deliver life-saving aid immediately and without obstruction, welcoming the recent agreement between the EU and Israel but stressing the need for “words turned into action.”
Secondly, the UK strongly opposed the expansion of Israel’s military operations and urged immediate implementation of robust measures to protect civilians. Ambassador Woodward cited the appalling statistic of over 1,000 children killed in the past four months and the tragic deaths of 800 people at aid sites, who were fired upon by the IDF while seeking food.
Thirdly, the United Kingdom expressed its dismay at the Israeli Defence Minister’s comments regarding the forced displacement of Palestinians to Rafah, asserting that such actions would contravene the fundamental principles upon which the UN was founded. She affirmed that Palestinian territory must not be reduced and civilians must be able to return home.
Concluding her statement, Ambassador Woodward emphasised that the path forward lies in diplomacy and compromise to deliver lasting peace for both Israelis and Palestinians. She commended the leadership of France and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in co-chairing the upcoming conference on a Two-State Solution, viewing it as a crucial opportunity to advance this goal.