United Kingdom: David Cameron, UK Foreign Secretary, will meet Israeli Cabinet Minister Benny Gantz, at a meeting in London. Cameron is expected to tell the Israeli minister that the UK has run out of patience with the lack of humanitarian aid reaching the people of Gaza.
According to the foreign secretary, Israel, as the occupying power, has an obligation under international humanitarian law to deliver aid.
During six hours of foreign affairs talks, Cameron laid out new strategies for a coalition of like-minded states to use frozen Russian assets as a bond, knowing Moscow would be compelled to pay reparations.
“We are facing a situation of dreadful suffering in Gaza. I spoke some weeks ago about the danger of this tipping into famine, and the danger of illness tipping into disease. And we are now at that point. People are dying of hunger, people are dying of otherwise preventable diseases,” Cameron said.
The British politician stated that they had made a series of requests to the Israelis. However, they reported that the aid received in February was only about half of what they had received in January. The politician emphasized that patience is running thin and that a series of warnings need to be given. The warnings will begin with a meeting scheduled with Minister Gantz during his visit to the UK.
Cameron stated that, “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.”
Concerning UK policy about the recognition of Palestine as a state, Cameron commented that recognition should not happen at the beginning of the process. Doing so would remove the pressure on the Palestinians to reform. However, recognition should not have to wait until the end, either.
Currently, American policy gives Israel veto power, which should not be the case. Recognition can be part of the momentum we need to achieve a two-state solution. According to Cameron’s statement, he did not think seizing frozen Russian assets for the Ukrainian people would disadvantage the City of London ‘in any way’ regarding the conflict in Ukraine.
The Foreign Secretary remarked that, “There was an opportunity to use something like a syndicated loan or a bond that effectively uses the frozen Russian assets as surety to give that money to the Ukrainians knowing that we will recoup it when reparations are paid by Russia. That may be a better way of doing it. We are aiming for the maximum amount of G7 and EU unity on this but if we cannot get it I think we will have to move ahead with allies that want to take this action.”
David Cameron expressed his concern that Vladimir Putin may not stop at Ukraine. The UK politician stated that if Russia is allowed to achieve any form of victory in Ukraine, it could put Moldova and some of the Baltic states at risk.
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