More UK support for Palestinians as Lammy urges Israel to allow 'surge of aid' into Gaza
Britain will provide more aid to Gaza after Israel suggested it would slow or stop supplies into the war-torn territory, Foreign Secretary David Lammy says.
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Lammy says that the UK provide £3 million through the UN's sexual and reproductive health agency UNFPA to support midwives in Gaza, where about 130 women a day are giving birth.
It comes as shocking latest figures showed more than 63,000 Palestinians have now reportedly been killed during Israel's war in Gaza, which has lasted 23 months.
These death toll is expected to rise after the IDF declared Gaza City a combat zone on Friday.
Mr Lammy called for Israel to allow a "surge in aid" into Gaza, as he pledged support for pregnant women and new mothers.
"The humanitarian situation in Gaza remains catastrophic, with famine in Gaza City and women and girls bearing the brunt of the suffering," Mr Lammy said.
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"The UK is doing all we can to improve the situation but we remain crystal clear: for aid to have impact, Israel must ensure it is allowed in and delivered safely and securely to civilians in desperate need."
Israel has indicated it will scale down its aid supplies in Gaza City and the north of the Gaza Strip as it prepares a fresh offensive against Hamas.
An IDF official said on Saturday that Israel will stop airdrops over Gaza City in the coming days and reduce the arrival of aid trucks into the northern part of the strip, as it prepares to evacuate hundreds of thousands of residents south.
Alongside the aid, the Foreign Office is also working with Oxfam GB to distribute menstrual hygiene products that are suitable for women and girls with limited access to clean water.
Mr Lammy said: "This new funding will help improve midwifery provisions and make giving birth safer. It is critical to improving the situation for mothers and their newborn babies.
"But this funding can only have maximum impact if the government of Israel allows it.
"Israel must ensure protection of civilians including healthcare staff and health infrastructure, and enable the delivery of life-saving medicines, medical equipment and healthcare supplies into Gaza.
"We need an immediate ceasefire, the release of all hostages, a surge in aid and a framework to deliver long-term peace."