UK pledge £88 million aid for Gaza/Image: Reuters
The British Government has announced an £88 million aid package to provide healthcare, clean water and protection to hundreds of thousands of Palestinians. Israel and the US criticised that policy, while Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar announced retaliatory measures that included closing the UK consulate in Jerusalem and imposing entry bans on 11 British MPs.
Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband called for civilians in Gaza to have unhindered access to humanitarian aid and urged the Israeli government to lift what he described as “unacceptable restrictions” on Gaza. “It is vital that civilians in Gaza have unhindered access to aid,” Miliband said. He added: “We urge the government of Israel to listen to our call to action and take steps to end its unacceptable restrictions on Gaza. The announcement comes amid a reset in the UK’s diplomatic ties with Benjamin Netanyahu’s administration.
The UK had previously banned goods produced in Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank.