David Lammy has said the “time is now” for a Gaza ceasefire during a visit to Israel – as he pushes for a truce that would also ease hostilities across the Middle East that have left the region on the brink of a wider war.
The foreign secretary’s visit, alongside French counterpart Stephane Sejourne, piles on the pressure for a deal as talks continue in Doha to stop the fighting between Israel and Hamas, and secure the release of Israeli hostages still held inside Gaza.
Those talks, convened by Qatar, Egypt and the US, are aimed at breaking weeks of diplomatic deadlock after the number killed in Gaza this week passed 40,000. The talks came hours after Israeli settlers launched an attack on a village near Nablus, in the occupied West Bank, killing at least one Palestinian whose funeral drew a large crowd of mourners.
Mr Lammy’s trip included the West Bank where, in Ramallah, he met Palestinian prime minister Mohamed Mustafa. In Jerusalem, he called for hostages to be returned, aid to be allowed into Gaza “in the quantities that are necessary”, and for the fighting to stop.
This story is from the August 17, 2024 edition of The Independent.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the August 17, 2024 edition of The Independent.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Carse justifies England faith as the archetypal bold pick
If you won a boxing match after your opponent continually punched themselves in the face, how much credit can you take?
Tenacious Diallo the key to Amorim pressing machine
Old Trafford has not seen anything like this before.
Gold King Cole packs the Bridge with merry old souls
In the 83rd minute, the ball rolled to the feet of Cole Palmer in a bubble of space outside Aston Villa's box, and the crowd snapped to attention.
Vibrant Anfield marks the changing of the Guardiola
There was a lull in the noise, a break in the Anfield atmosphere, when a defiant chant emerged from a corner near Stefan Ortega’s goal.
What is so daunting about Spain's new data checks?
Q You have written about the new “red tape” for visitors to Spain. So, as well as your usual passport details you will give a contact number, address and email. Not exactly the Spanish Inquisition, is it?
Sectarian clashes claim at least 130 lives in Pakistan
At least 130 people were killed in deadly sectarian clashes in Pakistan's northwestern Kurram district in spite of a tentative ceasefire, days after gunmen opened fire on a convoy of vehicles carrying Shia Muslims, local officials said.
Coalition government likely in Ireland as count proceeds
Fianna Fail say decisions on power-sharing for another day’
How Syria's forgotten war is back on the world's agenda
Many believed the country was lost in an unsolvable conflict, until everything changed in a matter of days, writes Bel Trew
Assad regime scrambles to halt Syrian rebels’ advance
Civilians reportedly killed by Russian and Syrian airstrikes
Mother of poisoning victim says she knew she would die
Lawyer Simone White succumbed to the effects of methanol while backpacking in Laos with two of her childhood friends
