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Sir Keir Starmer has expressed his concern about the lack of humanitarian aid in Gaza during a call with the King of Jordan. He spoke to King Abdullah II on Saturday, after which a Downing Street spokesperson stated, "The prime minister expressed deep concern about the renewed Israeli military action in Gaza and the lack of humanitarian aid."
Israel cut off the supply of food, fuel, and humanitarian aid to Gaza’s approximately two million Palestinians in an effort to pressure Hamas to accept a new proposal before a second phase of ceasefire. The proposal requires Hamas to release half of its remaining hostages in exchange for a ceasefire extension, without any mention of releasing more Palestinian prisoners. Israel’s decision was widely criticized, with Hamas accusing Israel of attempting to cause famine in Gaza and the head of the UN Palestinian relief agency warning of another hunger crisis if Israel continues this strategy.
The King of Jordan was thanked for his country’s work towards a political solution, with both leaders agreeing to urge both sides to return to a ceasefire. After two months of ceasefire, Israeli attacks have resumed in Gaza, with a British doctor recounting his efforts to save “child after child.” Sakib Rokafiya, a visiting British doctor, witnessed missiles lighting up the night sky early on Tuesday from the balcony of a hospital in Khan Younis. The Nasser Hospital, the largest in southern Gaza, is running short of antibiotics and essentials, with Dr. Rokafiya seeing multiple victims brought in after strikes resumed. He wrote notes directly onto patients’ skin and added names where possible, but for those children brought in by strangers, he wrote “Unknown.”
On Friday, Israel stated it had “eliminated” Hamas’s military intelligence chief in southern Gaza. Briefly afterward, the Israel Defence Forces said sirens had been activated as a result of projectiles launched from northern Gaza. Israel resumed airstrikes a few days ago after the ceasefire that had seen Israeli hostages swapped for Palestinian prisoners could not be agreed. The truce was supposed to continue as long as talks on the second phase continued, but Israeli leader Benjamin Netanyahu refused to enter into substantive negotiations. Over 600 people have been killed in Gaza, with hundreds more injured, since Israel relaunched the war earlier this week, according to Gaza’s health ministry. Israeli airstrikes resumed after rockets were fired into northern Israel from Lebanon, with Israeli airstrikes killing two people and injuring eight others in southern Lebanon. In Jerusalem, thousands of protesters have taken to the streets, criticizing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for his handling of the hostage crisis.
