UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy is embarking on a three-day tour of the Gulf in an effort to build regional consensus around a long-term peace framework for Gaza.
According to the Foreign Office, Lammy will hold meetings in the United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Saudi Arabia to discuss transforming any ceasefire into durable peace, including the creation of a monitoring mechanism, the disarmament of Hamas, and new governance arrangements for Gaza.
“The situation in Gaza is utterly bleak. Each day the humanitarian crisis deepens, famine looms across the territory, and hostages remain cruelly held,” Lammy said ahead of his trip. He stressed that ending the conflict requires not only an immediate ceasefire and the unconditional release of hostages, but also a “transformation in the delivery of aid” and renewed momentum towards a two-state solution.
The UK recently announced an additional £15 million in funding for medical care and humanitarian relief in Gaza, taking its total contribution to the Occupied Palestinian Territories this financial year to £75 million. The support will fund UN agencies providing assistance to women and girls, as well as UK Med’s field hospitals. Later this month, critically ill Palestinian children are expected to arrive in Britain for specialist treatment.
Lammy also confirmed that Britain intends to work with international partners on recognising Palestinian statehood as part of efforts to keep the two-state solution viable. He described Israel’s restrictions on humanitarian aid as “indefensible” and urged greater international pressure to ensure more assistance reaches the enclave. At the same time, he called on Hamas to release all hostages and to accept that it cannot play a role in Gaza’s future governance.
During his visit, Lammy will also thank Gulf partners for their support. The UAE has delivered humanitarian aid, including in cooperation with the UK; Qatar has mediated ceasefire talks and hostage releases; while Saudi Arabia has provided security assistance alongside the US and European partners.
Talks are also expected to cover trade ties between the UK and Gulf states. According to the Foreign Office, bilateral trade is already valued at more than £57 billion.
The war in Gaza has now entered its 700th day. Israel’s military campaign has left more than 64,000 Palestinians dead, while the enclave faces famine and devastation.
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