The foreign secretary has said he is “outraged by the Israeli government’s refusal to allow in sufficient aid” into Gaza, as he announced a further £15m to fund medical assistance in the region.
Addressing the House of Commons, David Lammy acknowledged a declaration from the UN-backed hunger monitor the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) last month that Gaza is experiencing a “man-made famine”.
Lammy also reiterated the government’s commitment to bring critically injured Gazan children to to the UK for specialist NHS treatment, with the first patients set to arrive in the coming weeks.
Israel has called the IPC report “deeply flawed” and called for it to be retracted.
Lammy also reiterated the UK’s government’s commitment to move to “full recognition” of a Palestinian state at the next UN General Assembly later this month – unless there is a breakthrough on a ceasefire.
Shadow foreign secretary Priti Patel said recognising a Palestinian state “should not happen” while there are hostages held by Hamas, some of whom are approaching 700 days in captivity.
In his statement on Monday, Lammy called for a “massive, massive humanitarian response” to prevent more deaths, and for crucial NGOs, humanitarians and health workers to be allowed to distribute stockpiles of aid on Gaza’s borders.
Lammy’s comments to the Commons echoed his response to the IPC’s declaration of famine last month, which he described as a “moral outrage”.
The UN and other aid organisations have reported significant impediments and obstructions in being able to collect and distribute aid in Gaza.
In its report last month, the IPC – which is the world’s leading hunger monitor – found that half a million people, a quarter of Palestinians in Gaza, are suffering from famine.
It also found that starvation is spreading rapidly in Gaza City, with famine expected to affect the rest of the enclave in September.
Israel has repeatedly denied starvation is taking place in Gaza and has said that where there is hunger, it is the fault of aid agencies and Hamas.
The extra £15m Lammy announced has been pledged through medical aid charity UK-Med and World Health Organization Egypt.
Lammy said: “We continue to work alongside regional partners, including Egypt and Jordan, of course, to enable the UN and NGOs to ensure aid reaches those most in need.”
On the evacuation of injured children, Lammy said: “It relies entirely on Israeli permissions, and I’m pressing the Israeli government for this to happen as quickly as possible.”
Some Gazan children have already been brought privately to the UK for medical treatment through an initiative by Project Pure Hope, but the government has so far not evacuated any through its own scheme during the conflict.
Lammy also condemned the Israeli government for continuing to approve illegal settlements in the West Bank, saying it was “tightening its stranglehold on the Palestinian economy”.
The International Court of Justice, the UN’s top court, has declared Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territories to be against international law.
Israel has consistently disputed that settlements are against international law.
Israel has recently approved an illegal settlement construction in the E1 area east of Jerusalem – a move that would effectively cut off the occupied West Bank from East Jerusalem and divide the territory in two.
David Lammy expressed his opposition to this, and said approval of illegal settlements in east Jerusalem “moved the dial” even closer towards recognition of a Palestinian state.