Foreign Secretary returns to Middle East to push for a sustainable ceasefire
The Foreign Secretary and Minister for the Middle East are travelling to Jordan and Egypt this week to push for a sustainable ceasefire and further humanitarian pauses in Gaza.
The Foreign Secretary visits the Jordanian Hashemite Charitable Organisation with HRH Prince Rashid and Lord (Tariq) Ahmad, to hear about the ongoing challenges of getting aid into Gaza.
- the Foreign Secretary will travel to Jordan and Egypt on his second visit to the region, alongside the Minister for the Middle East Lord Ahmad
- David Cameron to discuss the urgent need for a sustainable ceasefire involving the release of hostages and an end to rocket fire into Israel
- he will visit Al Arish, near the Egypt-Gaza border to see first-hand the lifesaving UK aid which is being sent to Gaza
The Foreign Secretary will travel to the Middle East this week to push for a sustainable ceasefire and for further humanitarian pauses in Gaza.
In talks with leaders in Jordan and Egypt, key neighbouring countries, he will progress efforts to secure the release of all hostages, step up aid to Gaza and end Hamas rocket attacks and threats against Israel.
He will reiterate the UK’s position that leaving Hamas in power in Gaza will be a roadblock to reaching a long-term political solution to the crisis which delivers security for both Israelis and Palestinians.
Ahead of the visit, Foreign Secretary David Cameron said:
This week I am making my second visit to the region to press the case for getting aid in to Gaza and the remaining hostages to be released.
On aid, I will be seeking to build on Israel’s decision to open the Kerem Shalom crossing to ensure significantly more aid and fuel can reach Gaza, through as many routes as possible.
No one wants to see this conflict go on for a moment longer than necessary. But for a ceasefire to work, it needs to be sustainable.
If Israel is still facing Hamas in Gaza with rockets and terror tactics, not only will a ceasefire not be sustainable, a two state solution in the longer term will also not be possible.
In Jordan, the Foreign Secretary will meet Foreign Minister Safadi and visit the Jordanian Hashemite Charity Organisation, which has become the focal point of Jordanian humanitarian support for Gaza.
In Egypt, the Foreign Secretary will see first-hand the impact of UK aid on a visit to Al Arish, near the Egypt-Gaza border. He will hear from the Egyptian Red Crescent about the impact the UK’s lifesaving aid deliveries such as wound care packs are having in Gaza. He will see how the Egyptian Red Crescent are using UK Aid forklift trucks and lighting towers to support delivery of the international aid effort. He is also expected to meet President Sisi and Foreign Minister Shoukry.
The Foreign Secretary will welcome Israel’s decision to open the aid crossing at Kerem Shalom, following intense lobbying by the Prime Minister, Foreign Secretary and Defence Secretary, as a vital step towards significantly increasing the amount of aid and fuel which reaches Gaza.
Find out more about the Foreign Secretary’s visit to Egypt in the press release: UK steps up humanitarian aid commitments to Gaza.
Further information
The Foreign Secretary has taken recent action against those looking to undermine security and stability for both Israelis and Palestinians. Last week, the Foreign Secretary said the UK would use existing immigration powers to prevent those responsible for settler violence in the West Bank from entering the UK, and the UK and US announced further sanctions on Hamas leaders, to cut off their access to funding and isolate them further.
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