New Delhi: The United Kingdom has strongly condemned the “deeply distressing” scenes emerging from Rafah following Israeli airstrikes over the weekend, urging Israel to launch a “swift, comprehensive, and transparent” investigation.
In a statement delivered at the UN Security Council, UK representative James Kariuki Wednesday said at the UN Security Council meeting that the UK is appalled by the violence, which has resulted in hundreds of civilian casualties.
“Hundreds of thousands have already been displaced from Rafah, many for the second time, and to locations without suitable provision of shelter, food, water, and access to medical treatment,” said Kariuki.
Kariuki, however, reiterated the UK’s condemnation of Hamas, which has put civilians at severe risk by using them as human shields. “We call on Israel to take care to limit operations to military targets and to minimise harm to civilians and civilian objects in line with international humanitarian law,” he said.
He also urged Israel to increase aid to the people of Gaza while calling on Hamas to lay down its arms and immediately release all hostages held for over seven months.
“All of this could stop now… We urgently need to see a deal that stops the fighting, allows for unhindered access for life-saving aid into Gaza, and gets the hostages out,” said Kariuki.