Published January 25, 2024
A permanent ceasefire can be achieved in Gaza and a two-state solution can be realised, Lord David Cameron has said after meeting the Israeli prime minister.
The foreign secretary struck an optimistic tone after talks in Jerusalem, insisting “there is a route to having a Palestinian state” – contradicting Benjamin Netanyahu, who recently rejected demands for a two-state solution.
“The scale of suffering in Gaza is unimaginable. More must be done, faster, to help people trapped in this desperate situation,” he said as he urged Israel to fully restore water, fuel and electricity supplies to Gaza.
“We need an immediate humanitarian pause to get aid in and hostages out, followed by a sustainable cease-fire, without a return to hostilities,” he added.
He also called for the protection of medics and hospitals after their destruction in the war in Gaza triggered by Hamas’s wave of bloodshed in Israel on October 7.
'There is a route to having a Palestinian state – to having a new future'@David_Cameron tells broadcasters he believes there can be a 'permanent sustainable ceasefire' in Gaza after meeting @netanyahu in Israel https://t.co/xpzqWWbr0U pic.twitter.com/WZNPY7KBIj
— ITV News Politics (@ITVNewsPolitics) January 25, 2024
The foreign secretary also visited Qatar on Thursday as part of his Middle East tour and will push leaders there to help negotiate an opening for aid to enter the besieged Gaza Strip.
A consignment of 17 tonnes (19 tons) of tents from the United Kingdom was due to be flown from Qatar to Egypt on its way to the territory on Thursday.
Lord Cameron also met with Palestine Authority president Mahmoud Abbas in Ramallah, in the West Bank, during his diplomatic mission to the Middle East.
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SOURCE: www.itv.com
RELATED: ‘Find a pathway out of Gaza war’: David Cameron urges Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu to end bloody conflict as he faces calls to help broker hostage release deal
Published January 24, 2024
David Cameron has urged Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to allow a ‘sustainable’ ceasefire in Gaza and allow more aid into the Palestinian territory.
The Foreign Secretary told the Israeli premier improve the ‘desperate’ situation in Gaza, and that a pathway out of the war could see the release of Israeli hostages taken by Hamas.
Lord Cameron, who flew to Israel on Wednesday for talks with Mr Netanyahu ahead of a trip to Qatar, raised concerns about the ‘high number of civilian casualties’ during his meeting.
It came as he and Rishi Sunak were urged to put pressure on the Qatari government to help secure the release of hostages taken by Hamas terrorists on October 7 – the gulf state previously brokered a deal that saw dozens freed in November.
Liran Berman, 36, whose twin brothers Gali and Ziv, 26, were taken hostage from their kibbutz Kfar Aza during the attack, called on UK ministers to pressure the gulf state into releasing more of Hamas’ victims.
Liran Berman (right) has called on UK ministers to put pressure on Qatar to broker a deal to release more hostages taken by Hamas. Pictured: Mr Berman with Eli Albag (left) and Ziv Abud (centre), who all had loved ones taken by the terrorist group
The carer for adults with special needs, who met the PM and Lord Cameron this week, told the Mail: ‘We have had all the sympathy that we need; now we need action from the UK, the United States and Europe to put pressure on Qatar which is the key player in all this.
‘We saw them have a big role in the first hostage deal but while they like to play the role of mediator, at the same time they host the senior leadership of Hamas and pay the same group hundreds of millions of dollars every year.
‘We need to keep the pressure on them because right now they are sitting on the fence and waiting to see if anyone will push them off it or not.’
According to hostages who have been released and saw Mr Berman’s brothers, they are being held separately and both have injuries.
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SOURCE: www.dalymail.co.uk
RELATED: Israel opposes creation of Palestinian state after the end of the war in Gaza, Benjamin Netanyahu says
Benjamin Netanyahu has spoken out against a two-state solution. Picture: Alamy/Getty
Published January 24, 2024
The Israeli prime minister said that his country must have security control over all land west of the river Jordan, including Gaza, to prevent an atrocity like the October 7 massacre taking place again.
He told reporters on Thursday: “This is a necessary condition, and it conflicts with the idea of (Palestinian) sovereignty.
“What to do? I tell this truth to our American friends, and I also stopped the attempt to impose a reality on us that would harm Israel’s security.”
Mr Netanyahu also vowed to press on with the war in Gaza “until complete victory”, including the total destruction of Hamas and the return of all surviving hostages still held captive, of which Israel thinks there are about 130.
He added: “Victory will yet take many long months, but we are determined to achieve it….
“Israel under my leadership will not compromise on less than total victory over Hamas, and we will win. I say this again, so that no one will be in doubt: We are striving for total victory, not just ‘to strike Hamas’ or ‘to hurt Hamas’, not ‘another round with Hamas’ but total victory over Hamas.”
Allies like the US and the UK all publicly back the two-state solution, in which Palestine gains full sovereignty. They have also publicly endorsed Israel’s right to defend itself.
The US, by far Israel’s most important backer, has recently pushed for the war, which has claimed the lives of around 25,000 people in Gaza, to be scaled back.
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SOURCE: www.lbc.co.uk
