Middle East conflict
British Foreign Secretary: “Patience with Israel must decrease”
“We are faced with a situation of terrible suffering in Gaza”: David Cameron. photo
© Bernd von Jutrczenka/dpa
British Foreign Minister Cameron criticizes the catastrophic situation in Gaza. At a meeting with Israeli Minister Gantz, he wants to speak plainly.
Because of the increasingly catastrophic humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip, British Foreign Secretary David Cameron Criticized Israel in clear terms. “Patience must be significantly reduced and a whole series of warnings must be issued,” said the conservative politician. He announced that he would also do this in a conversation with Israeli Minister Benny Gantz in London today.
“We are faced with a situation of terrible suffering in Gaza,” Cameron said. He had already warned weeks ago about the outbreak of disease and famine. This point has now been reached. “People die of hunger, people die of preventable diseases.” But despite calls for Israel to do more, only half as much aid arrived in the Gaza Strip in February as in January.
“Israel is the occupying power”
Cameron again called for a humanitarian ceasefire. In addition, access for aid deliveries to the Gaza Strip by land and sea must be increased. This also includes the Israeli port of Ashdod. He criticized that too many aid supplies were being rejected because they could supposedly be used for military purposes. “Some of these things are absolutely necessary for medical and other procedures,” Cameron said. Electricity and water supplies would also have to be restored in the north and south of the Gaza Strip. “Israel is the occupying power. It is responsible and that has consequences for how we assess whether Israel complies with international humanitarian law,” Cameron continued.
On the question of recognizing a Palestinian state, the former British Prime Minister said it was still too early for that. “It shouldn’t be at the beginning of the process because it would take all the pressure for reform off the Palestinians, but it shouldn’t be at the end either.” Israel should not have the right to veto this. But that is currently the case with the US attitude. “I think recognition can become part of the unstoppable momentum we need for a two-state solution,” Cameron said.