In a significant shift in the UK’s posture to Israel’s military policy, Foreign Secretary, David Lammy will call for a ceasefire in Gaza.
In a shift in UK politics, the United Kingdom’s foreign minister, David Lammy, called for a ceasefire during a visit to Israel and the West Bank. While symbolic in its influence, the move could signify a shift towards pushing for a hopefully permanent ceasefire in Gaza. Previously, the UK government has hesitated to support a permanent ceasefire in Gaza. While former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has encouraged Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to avoid an escalation in the Middle East, he has also not made any moves to oppose the continued £9.7 million in aid to Israel.
However, with a new administration, that attitude may change. During his visit, Lammy expressed frustration with the continued onslaught, saying, “The death and destruction in Gaza is intolerable…This war must end now, with an immediate ceasefire, complied with by both sides.” While far from being a perfectly forceful policy shift, the fact that Lammy has been more up-front than previous officials suggests some hope may be warranted, if only with a bit of skepticism.
Gaza: A Humanitarian Disaster
Since the terrorist attack on October 7th, which resulted in the deaths of an estimated 1,2000 people, most of whom are civilians, Israel has waged a continuous and extensive bombing campaign in the Gaza Strip. Said bombing has, according to the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner, led to famine, which “has spread across the Gaza Strip.”
Estimates of the death count have varied, with a July 10th count from Reuters suggesting 38,000 dead, with most of the deaths being civilians. In March of this year, UNICEF reported that an estimated 13,000 children have died in Gaza. However, other estimates suggest an even harsher picture. A recent analysis by the medical journal The Lancet suggests that the total death count is almost certainly larger, with scholars arguing that a total death count of “…up to 186,000 or even more deaths could be attributable to the current conflict in Gaza.” In March, the BBC estimated nearly 2 million people are estimated to be suffering from acute food insecurity.
What was supposed to be a war to end a terror group has increasingly become a humanitarian disaster without an end in sight.
Peace at Last? Not so Fast
While the UK Foreign Secretary’s statements are a good sign, they are not the end of the story. Earlier this Monday, the Israeli government conducted a strike in Southern and Central Gaza, with the said strike coming amid a previous strike that killed at least 90 Palestinians. The strike, which Israeli officials stated was to be directed at Hamas military chief Mohammed Deif, has yet to be confirmed as successful in its goal. Israel has also called for more than 5,300 new home settlements in the West Bank.
The continued aggression and expansion by Israel, combined with the hesitance of the Biden administration to withhold aid to Israel’s continuous war effort, suggests that further pressure for peace is necessary.
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References
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Al-Mughrabi, Nidal, Hatem Khaled, Maayan Lubell, and Nidal Al-Mughrabi. 2024. “Gaza Officials Say 90 Palestinians Killed as Israel Targets Hamas Military Chief.” Reuters. https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/dozens-palestinians-killed-or-wounded-israeli-attack-khan-younis-hamas-says-2024-07-13/ (July 15, 2024).
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Elgot, Jessica, and Jessica Elgot Deputy political editor. 2024. “David Lammy to Call for Gaza Ceasefire in Talks with Benjamin Netanyahu.” The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/politics/article/2024/jul/14/david-lammy-to-call-for-gaza-ceasefire-in-talks-with-benjamin-netanyahu-israel (July 15, 2024).
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Kelly, Conor. 2024. “Israel Could Face Charges from the International Criminal Court.” The Progressive American. https://progressiveamerican322183019.wordpress.com/2024/04/30/israel-could-face-charges-from-the-international-criminal-court/ (July 15, 2024).
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Lidman, Melanie. 2024. “UK Foreign Secretary Visits Israel and West Bank and Calls for an Immediate Cease-Fire in Gaza.” AP News. https://apnews.com/article/israel-uk-lammy-f88dff6235360a838e9d39a5beefce48 (July 15, 2024).
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