The foreign secretary has said it is “difficult to see” how Israel denying aid to Gaza can be compatible with international law.
The remarks in the Commons row back on stronger language used on Monday, when David Lammy said the ongoing blockade of goods and supplies was a “breach of international law”.
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As a cabinet minister, Mr Lammy speaks for the government, but his assertion sparked confusion as the next day Downing Street said it is for an international court to decide if the law has been broken.
It said the government’s position is Israel is “at risk” of doing so.
The Labour Muslim Network described the “row back” as “shocking and disgraceful”.
Mr Lammy told the Commons he “could have been clearer” with his initial remarks, and “our position remains that Israel’s actions in Gaza are a clear risk of breaching international humanitarian law”.
He said “ultimately these are matters for the courts”, but added: “It’s difficult to see how denying humanitarian assistance to a civilian population can be compatible with international humanitarian law.”
‘The deadliest day since the war began’
Since 2 March, Israel has cut off all food, medicine, fuel, electricity and other supplies to Gaza’s population of around two million people, to pressure Hamas to accept a new proposal ahead of a second phase of ceasefire.
The first phase was struck in January, but the fragile peace agreement was shattered on Tuesday when Israel began a fresh wave of air strikes.
Israel has also launched a “limited ground operation” to retake part of a key corridor in Gaza.
In the Commons, Mr Lammy said a British aid worker was wounded in a strike on a UN compound in Gaza.
He noted 18 March appears to have been “the deadliest single day for Palestinians since the war began”.
The Hamas-run Gaza health ministry reported at least 436 people have been killed since Tuesday – the majority being women and children.
Israel has denied being behind the strike on the UN facility, which also killed a worker from Bulgaria. It has also disputed the overall fatality figures.
Read more:
What happened to the Israel-Hamas ceasefire?
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Gazans wait for food as blockade continues
‘More bloodshed in no one’s interest’
The foreign secretary stressed the government “strongly opposes Israel’s resumption of hostilities” and the “appalling loss of life” it has led to.
He said: “We urgently want to see a return to a ceasefire. More bloodshed is in no one’s interest, Hamas must release all the hostages and negotiations must resume.”
The IDF claims it only targets militants and blames civilian deaths on Hamas because it operates in densely populated areas. Gaza’s health ministry records do not distinguish between civilians and combatants.
At PMQs on Wednesday, Sir Keir Starmer said he is “deeply concerned” about the renewed fighting and urged both sides to respect international law.
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Gaza: ‘It’s a critical situation’
The war in Gaza began after Hamas militants carried out a cross-border raid into southern Israel on 7 October 2023, killing 1,200 people and capturing around 250 hostages, according to Israeli officials.
Israel responded by launching an air and ground offensive in Gaza which has killed more than 48,000 Palestinians, say Gaza health officials.
