Concrete action must be taken ‘to prevent mass starvation of innocent children’ - Plaid Cymru
Concrete action must be taken ‘to prevent mass starvation of innocent children’ - Plaid Cymru
UK, France and Canada condemn Israeli Government’s military operations in Gaza in a joint statement
Plaid Cymru’s Foreign Affairs Spokesperson, Ben Lake MP has today (Tuesday 20 May) asked for reassurance from the Foreign Secretary that ‘concrete actions’ would be taken to “prevent the mass starvation of innocent children” as promised in the UK, France and Canada’s joint statement.
The Israeli Government has blockaded aid into Gaza for 11 weeks, placing 2.1 million people in the region at risk of famine.
The United Nations also warned that 14,000 children in Gaza could die within 48 hours without urgent aid.
Mr Lake emphasized the “immediacy of the crisis” and urged the UK Government to take the necessary concrete steps, along with international partners, should the Israeli Government continue with its military offensive and aid blockade.
Speaking in the House of Commons, Ben Lake MP said:
“Can I thank the Foreign Secretary for the statement and for reiterating the Government’s commitment to take further concrete action in concert with international allies should the Israeli Government fail to cease its military offensive and lift restrictions on humanitarian aid.
“Given the immediacy of the crisis and of the warnings that 14,000 children are at risk of starvation, could the Foreign Secretary please reassure the House that those “concrete steps” will be taken at such a time to prevent the mass starvation of innocent children?”
In his response, Foreign Secretary David Lammy said:
“As I said before and as the Prime Minister’s statement indicates, we will take concrete action, further action, if necessary but it is my sincere hope that we don’t need to take that action because Prime Minister Netanyahu heeds what those within his country and what the international community is saying.”
Ben Lake MP added:
“After the 11-week blockade of aid imposed by the Israeli Government, the humanitarian crisis in Gaza has reached a critical point with the UN warning that 14,000 infants could die within 48 hours if urgent aid does not reach them. The world cannot stand idly by and allow the starvation of thousands of children.
“We welcome the joint statement from the UK, France, and Canada opposing Israel's renewed military offensive and the blockade of food and aid. However, the international community must now take decisive action to ensure that sufficient aid reaches civilians in Gaza immediately, to prevent the starvation of thousands of babies.”