Cameron calls on Israel to clear way
DAVID Cameron has said that some of the blockages of aid into Gaza are the responsibility of Israel, as he urged the country to open one of its ports to allow aid arriving by sea to get through.
It comes after a group of pro-Israel Conservative MPs accused the Foreign Secretary of “sniping” at Israel over its war in Gaza, with the group due to meet Cameron yesterday.
Speaking in the House of Lords yesterday afternoon, Cameron said: “Getting more aid into Gaza requires the work of more than just Israel taking the relevant steps, but Israel is the country that could, I think, make the greatest difference because some of the blockages and the screening problems and all the rest of it are their responsibility.”
He highlighted the example of 18 trucks sent from Jordan being held for 18 days at a crossing.
Cameron also called for more visas to be issued to UN workers to ensure humanitarian assistance could be distributed in Gaza.
This comes as external affairs secretary Angus Robertson) urged the UK Government to resume funding for UNRWA, the UN agency which provides humanitarian aid in Gaza.
The UK Government is yet to respond to the Scottish minister’s letter, although Cameron called for Israel to remove restrictions on aid so that more humanitarian assistance could reach Gaza.
“We are doing all we can to increase aid into Gaza,” Cameron said yesterday.
“We have been collaborating with Jordan on humanitarian aid drops and are now working with partners to operationalise a maritime aid corridor from Cyprus. However, this cannot substitute delivery by land which remains the best way to get aid in at the scale that is needed.”
He added: “Israel must remove restrictions on aid and restore electricity, water and telecommunications.
“If Israel really wanted to help, they could open Ashdod port which is in Israel, which is a fully functioning port that could really maximise the delivery of aid from Cyprus straight into Israel and therefore into Gaza.”
He added: “One of the things Israel needs to do is give out more visas to UN workers.”