Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper delivered a stark warning at the UN General Assembly, accusing Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of allowing children in Gaza to starve while aid convoys remain blocked at the borders.
Speaking with urgency and emotion, Cooper called out the “unbearable humanitarian catastrophe” unfolding in Gaza. She stated the crisis is being worsened by the Israeli government’s decision to “escalate war and hold back aid”.
“Children dying of starvation while food rots at the border and settlement expansion threatens the very viability of a Palestinian state, the two-state solution risks disappearing beneath the rubble. That is what extremists on all sides want, but we refuse to let hope be lost,” she said.
A Move ‘Born of Urgency and Principle’
Cooper’s sharp remarks came just 24 hours after the UK made the landmark decision to officially recognise Palestine as a state.
The move, she explained, was a deliberate effort to preserve any chance of a viable two-state solution between Israelis and Palestinians.
“This step, alongside friends and partners, reflects a longstanding truth that statehood is the inalienable right of the Palestinian people, and that two states is the only path to security and lasting peace for Israelis and Palestinians alike.”
The UK’s recognition comes amid mounting international pressure on Israel over its continued military campaign and blockade in Gaza. France followed the UK’s lead, with President Emmanuel Macron announcing support for Palestinian statehood during his own address to the UN.
“Profound Peril” for Peace
In her address, Cooper outlined the multiple threats endangering the two-state solution, including “man-made famine, terrorism and hostage taking, settlement expansion and settler violence.”
“And Hamas terrorists continue to hold hostages seized in the barbaric attack of October 7, prolonging the unimaginable anguish of their families.”
She also condemned those on both sides who, she said, actively seek to destroy the possibility of peace.
“Extremists on both sides” want the two-state dream to “disappear beneath the rubble”, Cooper added.
A Region in Ruins
Israel’s military operation in Gaza, which it defends as necessary against Hamas, has led to catastrophic destruction.
Large swathes of Gaza have been reduced to rubble, and many areas face widespread famine. Aid agencies have repeatedly warned of a total collapse of health and food systems in the region.
Over 65,000 Palestinians have reportedly been killed since the beginning of Israel’s campaign in Gaza, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry.
The ministry run by Hamas but staffed by health professionals notes that women and children make up nearly half of the casualties. Israel disputes the figures and maintains its actions are defensive, denying allegations of genocide.
Trump to Address the Assembly
Adding further weight to the ongoing debate, Donald Trump is expected to address the 80th UN General Assembly on Tuesday. His speech comes at a time when the global community is heavily focused on the worsening crisis in Gaza.
As more countries express support for Palestinian statehood and condemn the humanitarian crisis, the pressure continues to mount on Israel and, by extension, on global powers to intervene diplomatically.
Stay with UK News Blog for the latest updates from the UN General Assembly and developments in Gaza.
