Lord Cameron, the UK Foreign Secretary, has stated that the US-led plan to deliver aid to Gaza by sea is expected to take “months,” emphasizing the urgency of the situation. In a call to action, Lord Cameron urged Israel to open its existing Ashdod Port to facilitate the delivery of aid in the interim while the temporary harbour is being constructed.
Speaking about the ongoing collaboration with Washington on the “emergency mission” to increase aid to Gaza, Lord Cameron warned that the construction of the temporary port on the besieged enclave’s shores will require considerable time. He stressed the need for immediate measures and called on Israel to “promise today” to open Ashdod Port, allowing aid to be shipped from Cyprus and transported into Gaza.
Expressing frustration at the current state of affairs, Lord Cameron noted, “Right now, there’s a crisis. We need 500 trucks a day or more going into Gaza.” He highlighted the inadequate daily average of 123 trucks in the past five days, urging Israel to open more crossing points, permit additional UN staff into Gaza for aid processing, and consider the full resumption of water and electricity services in the north and south of Gaza.
“We’ve set out these points repeatedly, and it’s incredibly frustrating that these things haven’t happened when you think of the terrible humanitarian situation in Gaza,” added Lord Cameron during an interview on BBC Radio 4’s World At One program on Friday. The international community is closely monitoring the developments as efforts continue to address the urgent aid needs in Gaza.