PRESS RELEASE : Foreign Secretary in Israel to press for de-escalation of Middle East tensions [April 2024]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 17 April 2024.

The Foreign Secretary is in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories for talks with Prime Minister Netanyahu, President Herzog and Foreign Minister Katz.

• the Foreign Secretary is in Israel with German Foreign Minister Baerbock to discuss regional tensions and the conflict in Gaza
• he has meetings with Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu, President Herzog Foreign Minister Katz to reiterate the UK’s commitment to Israel’s security
• the Foreign Secretary is in the OPTs to meet Prime Minister of the Palestinian Authority Mohammad Mustafa

The Foreign Secretary is in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories today (17 April) for high-level talks with Prime Minister Netanyahu, President Herzog and Foreign Minister Katz.

During the visit to Israel, he will reiterate the Prime Minister’s message to Prime Minister Netanyahu that “calm heads must prevail.” He will stress UK support for Israel’s security and say that significant escalation is in no one’s interest, and would only deepen insecurity in the Middle East.

The UK is calling for coordinated sanctions against Iran, who are responsible for so much of the malign activity in this region by backing Hamas, backing Hezbollah and backing the Houthi rebels.

Lord Cameron will also continue to urge an immediate pause in the fighting in Gaza to get aid in and hostages out, to allow progress towards a sustainable ceasefire. The UK is playing a leading role in alleviating the suffering of the Palestinian people and diplomatic efforts to secure the safe release of hostages, including British nationals.

The UK is now providing £3 million of additional funding for equipment to support UN and aid agencies at new and existing land crossings to get more aid into Gaza. The UK’s contribution will include trucks, forklifts, generators, fuel stores and lighting towers.

Foreign Secretary David Cameron said:

The situation is very concerning. It’s right to show solidarity with Israel. It’s right to have made our views clear about what should happen next.

But it’s clear the Israelis are making a decision to act. We hope they do so in a way that does as little to escalate this as possible.”

On the conflict in Gaza, he said:

More than 6 months have passed since Hamas’ brutal terror attack on innocent civilians. I’m here to focus back the eyes of the world onto the hostage situation.

192 days those people have been held Hamas should release them now and there is a good deal for them on the table. We need to see a pause in the fighting to get aid in and hostages out.

The Foreign Secretary and Foreign Minister Baerbock will urge Israel to deliver on its promises of delivering more aid into Gaza through as many routes possible by land, sea and air. The Foreign Secretary will strongly press Israel to open Ashdod Port for aid deliveries, as they promised to do, so that thousands of tonnes of aid can be delivered. The UK is also focused on ensuring more aid can enter Gaza by land, particularly through the Erez crossing and increased hours at Kerem Shalom.

Throughout this crisis, the UK and Germany have been united in their condemnation of Hamas’ atrocious terror attacks and support for Israel’s right to self-defence within international humanitarian law. The UK government has been working with partners across the region to secure the release of hostages, including British nationals and their families.

The Foreign Secretary is in the OPTs to meet with the newly appointed Prime Minister of the Palestinian Authority, Dr Mohammad Mustafa, to reiterate his support for the new Palestinian Authority government and the Palestinian people. In the West Bank, record numbers of Palestinians have been killed by settlers and Israeli forces while the economy grinds to a halt due to Israeli restrictions.

The UK remains committed to providing serious, practical and enduring support to the Palestinian Authority as they take much-needed steps on reform, including setting out a pathway to democratic progress. And to working together to progress our shared objective of a two-state solution that guarantees security and stability for both the Israeli and Palestinian people.