UK's FM calls for Gaza ceasefire for third time since assuming office
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During his second day of meetings with Israeli officials, including a meeting with Israeli President Isaac Herzog, Lammy maintains his plea for a ceasefire.
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British Foreign Secretary David Lammy speaking during a meeting with Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Wednesday, July 10, 2024, during the NATO summit in Washington (AP)
For the third time, UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy demands a ceasefire in Gaza during a visit to occupied al-Quds.
During his second day of meetings with Israeli officials, including a meeting with Israeli President Isaac Herzog, Lammy maintained his plea for a ceasefire. The new British Foreign Secretary is continuing a diplomatic effort despite waning chances of an immediate ceasefire.
Lammy relayed, “I hope that we see a hostage deal emerge in the coming days, and I am using all diplomatic efforts,” adding, “I hope, too, that we see a ceasefire soon, and we bring an alleviation to the suffering and the intolerable loss of life that we’re now seeing also in Gaza.”
On July 5, right after Keir Starmer announced his new cabinet, appointing Lammy as his Foreign Secretary, the latter repeated his support for international efforts to establish an "immediate ceasefire" in Gaza, as well as the release of all Israeli captives. He vowed that he would "get to work with tireless diplomacy" to achieve those two goals.
On July 6, speaking in Germany, Lammy said that the UK seeks a "balanced approach" to the Middle East, particularly the Israeli war on Gaza, and will employ diplomatic efforts to ensure a ceasefire and the release of Israeli captives take place.
Lammy expressed that it was time for "the United Kingdom to reconnect with the outside world," explaining that he hoped for a "balanced position on Israel and Gaza. We’ve been very clear that we want to see a ceasefire… We want to see those hostages out.”
The "fighting has to stop, the aid has got to get in, and I will use all diplomatic efforts to ensure that we get to that ceasefire," Lammy affirmed.
In May, Lammy called on the UK government to pause arms sales to "Israel", particularly weapons used in an Israeli invasion of Rafah for the first time since the war on Gaza began.
"Labour has been opposed to an Israeli offensive in Rafah for months and has been clear it must not go ahead," Lammy explained.
In January this year, when he was Labour's shadow foreign secretary, Lammy accused "Israel" of utilizing "devastating tactics" that have led to the killing of "too many innocent civilians," along with the "unacceptable" blockade of humanitarian aid.
He expressed that Gaza is in "dire" need of a ceasefire and "not a short pause."
The ceasefire will "provide urgent humanitarian relief, ward off famine, free hostages, and provide the space for a sustainable ceasefire, so fighting does not restart."
