At a meeting in London on Wednesday, David Cameron plans to express to Israeli cabinet member Benny Gantz that the UK’s patience is waning regarding the insufficient amount of humanitarian aid reaching the citizens of Gaza.
The foreign secretary stated that under international humanitarian law, as the occupying force, Israel is responsible for providing aid.
In a six-hour discussion on international relations, Cameron proposed a new strategy for a group of agreeing countries to utilize Russia’s frozen assets as a guarantee for Ukraine to use, with the understanding that Moscow would eventually be obligated to provide reparations.
He expressed concern over the dire circumstances in Gaza, stating that he had previously mentioned the potential for famine and illness to turn into disease. Sadly, this has now become a reality as people are dying from starvation and easily avoidable illnesses.
The Israeli government was asked to complete several tasks, but the amount of assistance they received in February was only half of what they received in January. The person speaking emphasized the need for patience and issued a warning to Israeli minister Gantz during their upcoming meeting in the UK tomorrow.
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Cameron set out the series of requests the UK government had already put to Israel, including expanding the type of humanitarian assistance that gets in. He said: “Too many items are sent away because they’re supposedly dual-use goods. Some of these things are absolutely necessary for medical and other procedures. And we also need to see a resumption of electricity and water to north and south Gaza.”
Cameron issued a strong alert regarding Israel’s violation of the laws of war. He emphasized that Israel, as the occupying force, bears responsibility and this must be taken into consideration when assessing their compliance with international humanitarian laws.
He stated that in order to achieve a lasting ceasefire, it is necessary to remove the Hamas leadership from Gaza and eliminate any terrorist infrastructure.
Elaborating on the UK’s stance on recognizing Palestine as a state, Cameron stated that he believes this should not occur at the beginning of the process as it may lessen the pressure for Palestinian reform. However, it shouldn’t have to wait until the end either. He also expressed his disagreement with the current American policy, which gives Israel veto power. Recognition can serve as a catalyst towards achieving a two-state solution.
Cameron stated that utilizing frozen Russian assets to aid the Ukrainian people would not harm the City of London. He suggested using a syndicated loan or bond that would use the frozen assets as collateral, ensuring that the money is returned when reparations are paid by Russia. While the goal is to achieve unity among G7 and EU countries, if this is not possible, allies willing to take action may need to proceed.
The foreign secretary expressed doubt that Vladimir Putin would halt after Ukraine, stating that if Russia achieved any type of victory in Ukraine, it could put Moldova and some Baltic countries in danger.
Source: theguardian.com
