The Foreign Secretary emphasized the urgency of aiding the people in Gaza without delay and called on Israel to ease restrictions on essential supplies. Yvette Cooper is set to travel to Jordan to witness the obstruction of much-needed aid at the border, including British-funded supplies stranded in a warehouse destined for the conflict-ridden region.
In preparation for her trip, Cooper stressed the immediate necessity of unblocking vital resources during her inaugural visit to the Middle East as Foreign Secretary. Addressing the situation in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, she highlighted the critical need to expedite aid delivery, especially given the alarming levels of famine and malnutrition affecting children.
Discussions between the Foreign Secretary and Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister focused on securing lasting peace following the recent ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. Cooper underlined the importance of collective efforts to support the peace process and reiterated the commitment to a two-state solution for Israel and Palestine coexisting peacefully.
During her visit to the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre, Cooper engaged with volunteers to discuss the reconstruction of Gaza’s healthcare system. She also participated in a traditional tea ceremony with influential Saudi women at the King Abdullah Financial District.
In Jordan, Cooper is expected to announce £6 million in funding for life-saving healthcare initiatives for women, including emergency birth kits to address the high rate of out-of-hospital childbirths in Gaza. She will engage in discussions with Jordanian officials on rebuilding efforts and the ongoing ceasefire.
Additionally, the Foreign Secretary will meet with schoolgirls, visit a hospital where Gaza children received NHS care in the UK, and observe the training of Palestinian security forces based in the West Bank.