Burak Bir and Aysu Bicer
13 June 2024•Update: 14 June 2024
'We monitor very closely what is happening and we have been particularly concerned about the flow of humanitarian aid into Gaza,' says foreign secretary
LONDON
Britain remains "very concerned" about the insufficient flow of aid to the Gaza Strip and believes Israel should be pushed "very hard" to allow more aid deliveries, Foreign Secretary David Cameron said Thursday.
Responding to a question from Anadolu about continuing arms sales to Israel, Cameron said the UK has "a very detailed process" to examine the commitment a country has to international law.
“We go through that detailed legal process, and then we have to make a decision based on that legal advice that is consistent with that legal advice, and we are going through that process (on) each occasion," he said at an event organized by the Foreign Press Association of London.
Noting that Britain is responsible for less than 1% of Israel’s arms imports, he said that overriding that process would be "quite a political decision."
"And I don’t think it would be the right political decision," he said, citing Iran's retaliatory attacks on Israel in April for what it called an Israeli strike on its consulate in Damascus which killed seven officers of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
On the ongoing situation in the Gaza Strip, Cameron said they continue to monitor it "very closely."
"What I said and I will continue to say is that of course we monitor very closely what is happening, and we have been particularly concerned about the flow of humanitarian aid into Gaza," he said.
One of his main tasks in the runup to the UK’s July 4 general elections, he said, is putting "as much pressure as possible" on Israel to open up both the Karem Shalom crossing and the Port of Ashdod to allow for more aid deliveries into Gaza.
"I have been very concerned and remained very concerned that the performance is not good enough, and I want to do better," he said, adding: "I think we should continue to push them very hard."
Israel has been widely criticized for letting in only a trickle of aid to Gaza, pushing millions of Palestinians into famine conditions.
Pro-Palestinian groups and the public have blasted Britain over continuing arms export licenses to Israel.
According to the Department for Business and Trade, the UK has issued 108 arms export licenses to Israel since last Oct. 7, when the Gaza conflict began, while over 300 licenses were still active as of May.
Cameron also touched on the UK's decision to leave the European Union, also known as Brexit, during his tenure as prime minister from 2010-2016, emphasizing the benefits of this move in current geopolitical contexts, particularly in supporting Ukraine.
"Well, I'd say what is working is that we're making the model of being friends, neighbors and partners of the EU rather than members work, and I think we see that most clearly with Ukraine, where Britain has been a supporter of Ukraine. We work hand in glove with the EU.
"I'm now responsible for the EU relationship and meet regularly with the EU commissioner, and I'd say we're making the trade and cooperation agreement work. We're solving problems dealing with difficulties and maximizing the opportunities that it has," he said.
Addressing the coming general elections on July 4, Cameron said "I think any time spent in an election campaign talking about the opinion polls or what the result might be or what the consequences might be is a complete waste of time."
"I'm a participant in this election, and I want the Conservatives to do as well as possible. And all outcomes are possible, including a Conservative victory, and that's what I'm working on," he added.
He also responded to concerns about the rise of the Reform UK Party, known for its controversial policies, and the potential splitting of Conservative votes.
He invited voters who prioritize job creation, social housing and controlling irregular migration to support the Conservative Party.
Cameron argued that votes for Reform UK could inadvertently lead to a Labour Party victory.
He also addressed questions about potential changes in international relations should far-right leaders like Marine Le Pen in France or Donald Trump in the US come to power. He emphasized the necessity of working with whoever is elected and maintaining good relationships.
