UK calls ambassador over new Gaza offensive, halts trade deal talks with Israel”
British foreign minister David Lammy is set to announce the pausing of trade deal negotiations with Israel, the government said on Tuesday, adding that it had also summoned Israel’s ambassador over its expansion of military operations in Gaza.
Israeli airstrikes killed at least 50 Palestinians in Gaza on Tuesday, local medics said, as Israel continues its bombardment despite mounting international pressure to stop military operations and allow aid into Gaza unimpeded.
Earlier on Tuesday, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said he, along with the leaders of France and Canada, were horrified by the military escalation in Gaza, repeating calls for a ceasefire.
“I want to put on record today that we’re horrified by the escalation from Israel,” Starmer told parliament, after releasing a joint statement with French President Emmanuel Macron and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney.
“We repeat our demand for a ceasefire as the only way to free the hostages, we repeat our opposition to settlements in the West Bank, and we repeat our demand to massively scale up humanitarian assistance into Gaza,” he said.
“We must coordinate our response, because this war has gone on for far too long,” Starmer added.
The leaders of Britain, France and Canada had warned on Monday they could take “concrete actions” against Israel if it did not stop military operations in Gaza and lift restrictions on aid.
