December 2nd 2024.
The current situation in the Gaza Strip has been described as "catastrophic," with little remaining of what used to make up the area. In response, the UK has pledged an additional £19 million in funding, bringing their total commitment to £99 million for the Occupied Palestinian Territories. This funding includes support for the UN's Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs and the World Food Programme.
Development minister Anneliese Dodds will be embarking on a three-day trip to the Occupied Palestinian Territories and Israel, where she will meet with Palestinian prime minister Mohammad Mustafa and visit a refugee camp in the West Bank. She will then head to Israel to hold meetings with officials and call for aid to reach Gaza. Additionally, she plans to meet with the families of UK and UK-linked hostages and urge for their release.
Ms Dodds expressed her concern for the dire situation in Gaza, stating that the people there are in desperate need of food and shelter, particularly with winter approaching. She sees the upcoming Cairo conference as an opportunity to discuss and implement solutions to the humanitarian crisis. The UK is committed to supporting the most vulnerable communities in the region and will provide additional funding for UNRWA and support Palestinian Authority reforms.
The development minister will also address the issue of Israel's impeding aid access to Gaza and call for a ceasefire and lasting solution to the conflict. It has been reported that the UK has granted licenses worth £42 million and £18 million for military goods to Israel in 2022 and 2023, respectively.
A recent investigation by Bellingcat has revealed "systematic and widespread" destruction of civilian housing and infrastructure in Gaza. The United Nations' Special Rapporteur has referred to this as "domicide." Dr. Andreas Krieg, an expert from King's College London, has praised the credibility of the investigation and stated that the data shows the indiscriminate use of force by the IDF against buildings that have already been cleared of Hamas forces and do not pose a military threat.
Dr. Krieg believes that this report confirms Israel's policy of destroying any infrastructure suspected of being associated with Hamas or providing services to the people of Gaza. The situation is dire and requires immediate action, and Ms. Dodds will urge Israel to allow unimpeded aid into Gaza to alleviate the suffering of its people.
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