UK minister for Mideast stresses importance of humanitarian pauses in Gaza

By Nur Asena Erturk

ANKARA (AA) – Britain's minister for the Middle East on Friday stressed the importance of humanitarian pauses in Gaza amid the ongoing deadly conflict.

Addressing a UN General Assembly emergency session on the Israel-Palestine conflict, Lord Tariq Ahmad welcomed the first step of 54 trucks moving across the Rafah border crossing from Egypt to Gaza, and urged more assistance, including fuel for civilian use.

"And these humanitarian pauses are an important part of ensuring that this can happen," he added.

He also called on the UN to "come together and not lose sight of the promise that this United Nations holds true of the two-state solution, a secure, safe Israel, side by side with a viable Palestinian state."

Ahmad also vowed that Britain will continue efforts with all its regional partners to ensure peace and prevent the Mideast issue from spreading and "causing wider insecurity and instability."

The conflict in Gaza began on Oct. 7 when the Palestinian group Hamas initiated Operation Al-Aqsa Flood – a multi-pronged surprise attack that included a barrage of rocket launches and infiltrations into Israel by land, sea, and air.

Hamas said the incursion was in retaliation for the storming of the Al-Aqsa Mosque and growing violence by Israeli settlers against Palestinians.

The Israeli military then launched a relentless bombardment of Hamas targets in the Gaza Strip.

Gaza’s 2.3 million residents have been running out of food, water, medicine, and fuel, and aid convoys recently allowed into Gaza have carried only a fraction of what is needed.

Nearly 8,800 people have been killed in the conflict, including at least 7,326 Palestinians and 1,400 Israelis. Some 70% of the deaths in Gaza are women and children, according to official figures.