The Foreign Secretary emphasized the critical importance of not abandoning Gaza as a region caught in a precarious state between peace and conflict. Yvette Cooper called on both Israel and Hamas to uphold the ceasefire despite recent tensions, including reported Israeli airstrikes causing casualties in Gaza. During her inaugural visit to the Middle East as Foreign Secretary, Ms. Cooper pressed Israel to allow increased aid flow into the war-torn Gaza strip.
Highlighting the urgency of advancing the peace plan, brokered by Donald Trump and other key nations, Ms. Cooper stressed the need for sustained international efforts. She underscored the necessity of easing restrictions on aid, particularly by opening border crossings to facilitate swift humanitarian assistance delivery to Gaza’s distressed population.
The UK’s commitment to support Gaza’s recovery was reiterated, with a £4 million pledge to clear landmines obstructing aid access. Ms. Cooper emphasized the essential role of removing munitions to ensure safe infrastructure reconstruction, allowing schools, hospitals, and homes to be restored for the community’s benefit.
Addressing the complexity of the next peace phase, Ms. Cooper emphasized the need for disarmament, governance reform, and peacekeeping measures to ensure lasting security for all involved. She stressed the importance of transparency, urging foreign journalists’ access to Gaza to convey the extent of devastation and the urgent need for reconstruction support to secure a better future for Palestinian children.
Recognizing the enduring impact of conflict on children, Ms. Cooper emphasized the profound responsibility to protect and aid those most affected by conflicts worldwide.