Reaction to IPC famine alert in Gaza

An Oxfam spokesperson said: "The Prime Minister will fail humanity if he does not act today. For the first time, the IPC, the UN-backed monitor, has said famine is now unfolding in Gaza. This is no longer about alarm bells. This is the acknowledgement of a humanitarian catastrophe. As the UK cabinet holds an emergency meeting there is no longer time for equivocation or semantics. The UK must exert more political pressure to stop the genocide, open the borders, and secure the release of hostages and detainees on both sides. Airdrops and brief pauses for meagre deliveries of aid are nowhere near enough to prevent starvation and death on the scale the world is now witnessing. Only urgent, forceful diplomacy will achieve an immediate and unconditional ceasefire, break Israel’s siege, and allow lifesaving aid to flow freely and safely.

"The UK Government’s recognition of Palestinian statehood would be a welcome and overdue step in the right direction. But this recognition cannot be made conditional especially not while millions of Palestinians are facing famine and their basic human rights are being denied."