The is working with Middle Eastern allies including on plans to airdrop aid into the and evacuate children in need of medical care, British Prime Minister ‘s office said on Saturday.
“The prime minister set out how the UK will be taking forward plans to work with partners such as Jordan to airdrop aid and evacuate children requiring medical assistance,” read a statement after Starmer held a three-way phone call with French President and German Chancellor .
During the conversation, the three leaders agreed that the was “appalling” and that it would be “vital to ensure robust plans are in place to turn an urgently needed ceasefire into lasting peace,” according to the Downing Street readout.
“They discussed their intention to work closely together on a plan … which would pave the way to a long-term solution and security in the region,” it continued. “They agreed that once this plan was worked up, they would seek to bring in other key partners, including in the region, to advance it.”
In , Chancellor Merz’s office spoke of “large agreement” on the call – despite so far to the extent that the UK and have done, with the latter even set to later this year.
“We will be coordinating very closely in the coming days to take the next steps,” said Merz.
The phone call came a day after Secretary-General slammed the international community for turning a blind eye to widespread starvation in the Gaza Strip, calling it a “moral crisis that challenges the global conscience.”
For the first time in months, Israel said it is allowing airdrops, requested by neighboring Jordan. An official in Amman said the airdrops will mainly be food and milk formula.
But the head of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA), Philippe Lazzarini, warned on social media that airdrops are “expensive, inefficient and can even kill starving civilians” and won’t reverse the increasing starvation or prevent aid diversion.
“A man-made hunger can only be addressed by political will,” he said, demanding: “Lift the siege, open the gates and guarantee safe movements and dignified access to people in need.”
The post Middle East updates: UK, Jordan working on Gaza airdrop plan appeared first on Deutsche Welle.
