Gaza: Permanent ceasefire and two-state solution can be achieved, David Cameron insists
A permanent ceasefire can be achieved in Gaza and a two-state solution can be realised, Lord David Cameron has said after meeting the Israeli prime minister.
The foreign secretary struck an optimistic tone after talks in Jerusalem, insisting "there is a route to having a Palestinian state" - contradicting Benjamin Netanyahu, who recently rejected demands for a two-state solution.
“The scale of suffering in Gaza is unimaginable. More must be done, faster, to help people trapped in this desperate situation," he said as he urged Israel to fully restore water, fuel and electricity supplies to Gaza.
“We need an immediate humanitarian pause to get aid in and hostages out, followed by a sustainable cease-fire, without a return to hostilities," he added.
He also called for the protection of medics and hospitals after their destruction in the war in Gaza triggered by Hamas’s wave of bloodshed in Israel on October 7.
The foreign secretary also visited Qatar on Thursday as part of his Middle East tour and will push leaders there to help negotiate an opening for aid to enter the besieged Gaza Strip.
A consignment of 17 tonnes (19 tons) of tents from the United Kingdom was due to be flown from Qatar to Egypt on its way to the territory on Thursday.
Lord Cameron also met with Palestine Authority president Mahmoud Abbas in Ramallah, in the West Bank, during his diplomatic mission to the Middle East.
Mr Netanyahu has maintained his objection to Palestinian statehood despite calls from the US to work towards the two-state solution after the conflict.
The leader of a far-right government, he said last week that the idea would “endanger the state of Israel” as he criticised the “attempt to coerce us”.
On Thursday, the Foreign Office said Lord Cameron reiterated the UK’s support for Israel’s attempts to secure the release of the remaining hostages, believed to number about 130, still being held by Hamas.
But he also underlined to Mr Netanyahu during their meeting in his office that Britain believes long-term peace must be based on achieving a Palestinian state alongside Israel.
In a statement, Lord Cameron said: “The scale of suffering in Gaza is unimaginable. More must be done, faster, to help people trapped in this desperate situation.
“As I said to PM Netanyahu yesterday, far more trucks need to be able to enter Gaza and more crossings need to open.
“We need an immediate humanitarian pause to get aid in and hostages out, followed by a sustainable ceasefire, without a return to hostilities.”
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The Foreign Office announced that a 17-tonne consignment of family-sized tents was being flown into Gaza on Thursday in a first joint consignment from the UK and Qatar.
During his visit, Lord Cameron will witness the aid being loaded onto a plane destined for Egypt, where it will go by road to Gaza.
The Rafah crossing between Egypt and the strip has been the major lifeline to get essential supplies in for starving Palestinians.
Lord Cameron pushed Israeli leaders for the city of Ashdod to be used to deliver aid.
The Foreign Office said Israel must open more routes into Gaza and fully restore water, fuel and electricity supplies.
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