The UK has suspended trade negotiations with Israel over Gaza aid blockade.
The foreign secretary, David Lammy, has told parliament the UK has suspended trade negotiations with Israel over its Gaza blockade. David Lammy said the Israeli ambassador had been summoned.
It comes as the UN’s humanitarian chief, Tom Fletcher, told the BBC this morning that 14,000 babies could die in Gaza in 48 hours if aid did not reach them in time. Five aid trucks entered Gaza on Monday but Fletcher described this as a “drop in the ocean” and totally inadequate for the population’s needs.
It followed the director general of the World Health Organization, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, saying yesterday that 2 million people were starving in the Gaza Strip while “tonnes of food is blocked at the border” by Israel.
Corbyn
In response, former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn wrote: “World leaders can make as many statements as they like opposing Israel’s actions in Gaza. Until they end the sale of weapons to Israel, they remain complicit in the mass murder of Palestinians. Stop arming genocide, now.”
Also, Carla Denyer, the co-leader of the Green party of England and Wales has called for “concrete action against Netanyahu’s murderous government” from the UK government.
The MP for Bristol Central said: “The UN has warned that 14,000 babies could die in the next 48 hours. Concrete action against Netanyahu’s murderous government is long overdue.
“We know that this government is not prepared to make a determination on genocide, but they have told us that they are making ongoing assessments to the risk.
“So will they now finally release that risk assessment for this House and public to see, and prove that this government takes its obligations under international law seriously, and they mean what they say about concrete action?”
Richard Burgon MP said: “How many more people in Gaza need to be killed, injured or starved by Israel, until the Government does the right thing and brings in widespread sanctions – on arms, on trade and on the individuals responsible for this genocide?”
Dr Rosena Allin-Khan said: “Yesterday, Israel allowed only 5 aid trucks to enter Gaza. 5 trucks for over 2m people – more than Northern Ireland’s entire population. The weaponisation of food is morally reprehensible. We must impose an arms embargo and sanction the Israeli officials that are responsible.”
Related: Tory ‘friend of Israel’ calls on Govt to call out Gaza actions – here’s what he said
