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.