UK, EU agree to boost efforts on tackling humanitarian crisis in Gaza

By Ahmet Gurhan Kartal

LONDON (AA) - Stepping up efforts to address the humanitarian crisis in Gaza is a "key priority" for the UK and EU, leaders of the two sides agreed on Thursday.

Following the AI Safety Summit at Bletchley Park, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen agreed to "work closely together on issues of international peace and security, in particular dealing with the humanitarian crisis in the Middle East and continuing to back Ukraine against Russian aggression in Europe," according to a UK government statement.

The leaders also discussed the importance of an improved global understanding of the capabilities and risks surrounding the use of AI during their meeting at the summit, held in the city of Milton Keynes, northwest of London.

The Gaza Strip has been crippled by a years-long embargo by the Israeli government, plus an even harsher cutoff of fuel, water, and power supplies since the start of the current conflict on Oct. 7

In recent days Israel has let some aid into the enclave, but only a fraction of what the population of over 2.2 million need to survive.