UK: Israeli Settlement Expansion Violates International Law
British Foreign Secretary David Lammy stated on Tuesday that London seeks a permanent ceasefire in Gaza, not just a 60-day pause. Speaking without acknowledging UK military support to Israel, Lammy warned that if the “unbearable” humanitarian situation persists, Britain would take further action against Israel. “We must achieve a Gaza ceasefire within weeks,” he declared.
The Foreign Secretary criticized the current aid distribution system as “completely unacceptable,” noting civilians are dying while awaiting assistance. “to resolve Gaza’s aid crisis, the UN and its agencies must play a central role,” Lammy emphasized.
He explicitly condemned Israel’s settlement expansion as “a violation of international law” during his remarks.
The comments follow warnings by UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini about daily casualties at Israeli-managed aid distribution points. According to Lazzarini, this “humiliating system” forces thousands of starving Palestinians to walk kilometers for food while excluding vulnerable groups and remote communities entirely.
The UN official stressed that Israel’s mechanism isn’t designed to alleviate hunger, asserting that only UN agencies like UNRWA-with thier operational experience and local trust-can ensure safe, large-scale aid delivery.