UK Renews Pledge To Recognize Palestinian State Unless There Is Breakthrough On Ceasefire

(MENAFN- Kuwait News Agency (KUNA)) LONDON, Sept 1 (KUNA) -- Addressing the House of Commons, David Lammy on Monday reiterated the UK's government's commitment to move to "full recognition" of a Palestinian state at the next UN General Assembly later this month - unless there is a breakthrough on a ceasefire.
Lammy called for a "massive humanitarian response" to prevent more deaths, and for crucial NGOs, humanitarians and health workers to be allowed to distribute stockpiles of aid on Gaza's borders.
The foreign secretary has said he is "outraged by the Israeli government's refusal to allow in sufficient aid" into Gaza, as he announced a further آ£15m to fund medical assistance in the region.
Lammy said: "We continue to work alongside regional partners, including Egypt and Jordan, of course, to enable the UN and NGOs to ensure aid reaches those most in need."
Lammy also reiterated the government's commitment to bring critically injured Gazan children to to the UK for specialist NHS treatment, with the first patients set to arrive in the coming weeks.
On the evacuation of injured children, Lammy said: "It relies entirely on Israeli permissions, and I'm pressing the Israeli government for this to happen as quickly as possible."
Lammy also condemned the Israeli government for continuing to approve illegal settlements in the West Bank, saying it was "tightening its stranglehold on the Palestinian economy".
Israel has recently approved an illegal settlement construction in the E1 area east of Jerusalem - a move that would effectively cut off the occupied West Bank from East Jerusalem and divide the territory in two.
David Lammy expressed his opposition to this, and said approval of illegal settlements in east Jerusalem "moved the dial" even closer towards recognition of a Palestinian state. (end)
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