British and Egyptian ministers address Gaza aid and Red Sea attacks

Britain and Egypt’s foreign ministers have called for more aid to enter Gaza during a joint media briefing in Cairo.

UK Foreign Secretary David Cameron visited Egypt on Thursday, where he also met President Abdel Fattah El Sisi to discuss the war in Gaza and other issues.

Mr Cameron and Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry said more relief must be allowed into the strip.

The enclave is in vital need of more food supplies and starvation is widespread, the World Health Organisation said on Tuesday. Aid deliveries have been piling up outside the Rafah and Kerem Shalom border crossings into Gaza, delayed because of a rigorous checking process by Israeli authorities.

Mr Cameron said the British government was exploring other routes for aid to enter Gaza.

“Are there opportunities for aid to come from Cyprus in British ships to be delivered to Gaza? We’re working on that,” he said.

“Everything that can be done, must be done to get aid into Gaza to help people in the desperate situation they are in.”

Mr Cameron reaffirmed British support for a “sustainable ceasefire” in Gaza – which falls short of the permanent ceasefire called for by Arab countries.

He specified that under the sustainable ceasefire, “Hamas is no longer able to threaten Israel with rockets”.

Mr Shoukry emphasised the need for the UN Security Council to push through a draft resolution for an end to hostilities in Gaza and to increase international pressure on Israel to allow more aid into the embattled enclave.

The resolution has already been approved by 70 countries and has emphasised the disproportionate effect that the war has had on Gaza’s women and children. “We understand the political considerations of the council and we, as the Arab bloc, have been very flexible, amid repeated tweaks to our original requests.

“But humanitarian matters, however, should precede political ones when it comes to the UN Security Council.

“That’s why the UN was created,” Mr Shoukry said.

Mr Cameron said, “We are very keen to see consensus arrived at so that Security Council resolution – which is really all about aid and the delivery of aid, and the need to upscale the aid and the need for it to get through in far bigger numbers – that can go through.” Mr El Sisi and Mr Cameron also addressed the continued attacks by Iran-backed Houthis on ships in the Red Sea, which have significantly affected global trade.

The Houthis have launched a campaign of drone and missile strikes against international shipping in support of Hamas, which has forced some of the world’s largest shipping companies to halt their routes through the Suez Canal.

Mr Cameron’s visit was also intended to make “absolutely clear” to Iran the danger of encouraging the Houthis to attack ships in the Red Sea, he said. “We really must see an end to these threats.” The US on Monday announced a 10-nation coalition – Operation Prosperity Guardian – to thwart Houthi missile and drone attacks on ships in the Red Sea.

The Royal Navy’s warship HMS Diamond has joined the operation, Mr Cameron said, hinting at increased British involvement in the coalition.

“We’re a trading nation all over the world and I think it’s absolutely essential not just for us, but for everybody,” he said.

Egypt is co-operating with the coalition and talks are under way to determine the best way to deal with the Houthi threat, Mr Shoukry said.