Starmer says UK to help air drop aid into Gaza – but UN warns they could kill starving civilians
The UK is working with Jordan on plans to air drop aid into Gaza and evacuate children needing medical assistance, Sir Keir Starmer has announced.
But the UN has warned has warned the focus on air drops is a ‘distraction’, and could lead to more deaths in the war-torn enclave.
The prime minister held emergency talks with French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on Saturday amid mounting global anger at the starving population in the besieged enclave.
In a readout of the call, a spokesperson for Sir Keir said the leaders had agreed “it would be vital to ensure robust plans are in place to turn an urgently needed ceasefire into lasting peace”.
The three leaders agreed the situation in Gaza is “appalling”, the readout said, adding there is an “urgent need for an immediate ceasefire, for Israel to lift all restrictions on aid and urgently provide those suffering in Gaza with the food they so desperately need”.
“The prime minister set out how the UK will also be taking forward plans to work with partners such as Jordan to air drop aid and evacuate children requiring medical assistance,” the statement added.
Israel said on Friday it will allow airdrops of aid by foreign countries into Gaza to alleviate starvation in the Palestinian territory.
However, the head of the United Nations’ Palestinian refugee agency Unrwa has criticised aid air drops, saying it “will not reverse the deepening starvation” in Gaza.
“They are expensive, inefficient & can even kill starving civilians,” Philippe Lazzarini said. “It is a distraction and screensmoke.”
Instead, he suggested that the starvation in Gaza can only be solved through political will. “Lift the siege, open the gates and guarantee safe movements and dignified access to people in need,” he said.
Mr Lazzarini said Unrwa has “the equivalent of 6,000 trucks” waiting for the “green light” into Gaza in Jordan, and Egypt.
“Driving aid through is much easier, more effective, faster, cheaper and safer,” he added. “It’s more dignified for the people of Gaza.”
It comes as Israeli airstrikes and shootings overnight killed at least 25 people, according to Palestinian health officials.
The majority of victims were killed by gunfire as they waited for aid trucks close to the Zikim crossing with Israel, staff at Shifa hospital said, where the bodies were brought.
