UK FM arrives to Saudi Arabia to discuss Gaza, boost diplomatic effort
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Cleverly is due to discuss ways to deliver more humanitarian aid to Gaza, as he intends to boost diplomatic efforts to avoid escalation not only in "Israel" but also in Lebanon and Yemen.
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Britain's Foreign Secretary James Cleverly speaks during an event of signing a memorandum of understanding with Japan's Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa in Tokyo, Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2023. (AP)
The UK Foreign Office announced on Thursday that Foreign Secretary James Cleverly landed in Saudi Arabia to convene with regional foreign ministers to discuss the situation in Gaza
"Foreign Secretary James Cleverly has traveled to Saudi Arabia after the G7 Foreign Ministers’ meeting in Tokyo … He will hold high-level talks with regional Foreign Ministers in diplomatic efforts to prevent escalation and work towards a two-state solution," the ministry said in its statement.
The Foreign Office added that Cleverly is due to discuss ways to deliver more humanitarian aid to Gaza, as he intends to boost diplomatic efforts to avoid escalation not only in the occupied territories but also in Lebanon and Yemen.
In the latest updates on talks, according to Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Wednesday, "Israel" and allies should begin to set the conditions of "durable peace" in Gaza.
While Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is yet to offer a precise plan for Gaza in the event of successfully "eradicating Hamas," Blinken believes diplomatic efforts to find "lasting peace" are overdue.
The Israeli occupation has been relentlessly bombarding Gaza since October 7, killing upwards of 10,550 Palestinians, including 4,320 children and 2,820 women.
'Blindly following' genocide
This comes a day after the UK put increasing pressure on police to ban a pro-Palestinian demonstration that was set to be held in London on Armistice Day, Saturday, November 11.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said he would hold the Metropolitan Police commissioner "accountable" for approving this Saturday's protest in solidarity with Palestine.
Tens of thousands of people are anticipated to demonstrate in the capital of Britain to call for an end to the Israeli aggression, which has been going on for more than a month. The head of the Conservative Party claims that a march on Armistice Day would be "provocative and disrespectful."
Read next: UK supports Israeli war, opposes ceasefire in Palestine: Minister
Internal rows have been occurring within the British political system, as a campaign of resignations is taking place in light of Labour Party leader Keir Starmer's support for "Israel". For instance, Burnley Council leader Afrasiab Anwar resigned with 10 others, saying that “blindly following Rishi Sunak” was “not acceptable”.
He described his departure from the Labour Party as a "tough decision."
Anwar and a group of ten other councilors have issued a statement announcing their collective decision to depart from the party, citing their memberships as "unsustainable" due to the leadership's failure to call for a ceasefire in the Middle East.
