Gaza latest: UK says region needs 500 aid trucks a day as seven more Palestinians die of malnutrition
In an unprecedented move, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Egypt have for the first time urged Hamas to disband to pave the way for a Palestinian state.
They signed a statement condemning the October 7 attacks and told Hamas to surrender control, along with 14 other countries, including Britain and France, after a UN conference.
“In the context of ending the war in Gaza, Hamas must end its rule in Gaza and hand over its weapons to the Palestinian Authority,” the declaration said. “In line with the objective of a sovereign and independent Palestinian State.”
It comes after Benjamin Netanyahu accused Sir Keir Starmer of ‘rewarding Hamas’ over his pledge to recognise Palestine unless Israel takes steps to end the war.
Sir Keir’s announcement followed a UN-backed food security body alert that the “worst-case scenario of famine” is playing out in Gaza,
Seven more people have died from famine in the last day, Gaza’s Hamas-run health ministry said, bringing the death toll from insufficient food to 154 people, including 89 children.
More than 60,000 Palestinians have died since October 2023, local officials say.
