UK asks agencies to ‘flood’ under-used Israeli port with aid for Gaza
The UK Government is pressuring aid agencies to step up humanitarian deliveries for Gaza to the Port of Ashdod in Israel.
Tel Aviv has said the port is now fully open but aid organisations are not using the route enough despite the deep humanitarian crisis in the war-hit Gaza Strip, Foreign Secretary Lord Cameron believes.
Cameron wants “maximum effort to flood Ashdod with aid”, a Whitehall source said, with the United Nations saying northern Gaza is already in a state of “full-blown famine”.
The key Rafah crossing to allow aid to enter Gaza was seized and closed by Israel earlier this week as it began controversial fighting and bombardment against Hamas in the city, where around 1.2m civilians have been sheltering following military action across the rest of the Strip.
But the Kerem Shalom crossing, near Rafah, was reopened yesterday after being closed following a Hamas rocket attack on Sunday, while Israel opened the Erez crossing in the north of Gaza last week, meaning aid brought into Ashdod could reach the Palestinian territory.
A US container ship filled with aid for Gaza is meanwhile en route to the Strip from Cyprus in what will be a test of the floating dock installed by American forces.
A British support ship, RFA Cardigan Bay, is providing logistical help including accommodation for hundreds of US soldiers and sailors building the temporary pier.
But Whitehall sources ruled out UK troops helping to provide security for the aid once it reaches the shores of Gaza, despite reports that this was being considered by the Government.
UK officials meanwhile believe they are making progress in pressuring Israel to allow aid into Gaza.
The Foreign Secretary’s humanitarian representative for Palestinian territories, Mark Bryson-Richardson is now in direct contact with the department of Ron Dermer, Israel’s Strategic Affairs Minister, to press for more aid to get into the Strip.
It came as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said his country can “stand alone” after US President Joe Biden warned against a full-scale invasion of Rafah and suspended a planned delivery of heavy bombs to Israel over fears they could cause civilian deaths in the city.
While the UK acknowledges Netanyahu and Biden have fallen out over the Gaza offensive, there is a belief that some of their toughest messaging is being reserved for domestic audiences, where the Israeli PM is facing pressure to be tough in responding to the 7 October terror attack, while the US President is losing votes over supporting Israel, in election year.
UK officials believe that while Biden has suspended one major arms delivery, other weapons shipments may be continuing, while the US and Israel continue to coordinate closely on the situation on the ground.
It came as Shadow Development Minister Lisa Nandy urged the UK to suspend arms sales to Israel if it goes ahead with a full-scale incursion into Rafah.
The Labour frontbencher said: “Our government must work to prevent a catastrophic offensive into Rafah by being clear it will assess UK exports and, if the offensive goes ahead, join our allies in suspending weapons or components that could be used in that offensive, as the President Biden has done.”
