Key facts
- UK Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband called for Israel's withdrawal from Gaza and an end to settlements in the West Bank.
- Miliband also urged Israel to end blockages on aid into Gaza.
- He stated that Hamas must decommission its weapons.
UK Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband urged Israel to withdraw from Gaza and curb West Bank settlements in his first call with Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar. Miliband also called for an end to aid blockages into Gaza and reiterated the UK's commitment to a two-state solution.
The statement signifies a firm stance from the UK government on the ongoing conflict, urging specific actions from Israel and highlighting shared concerns with Iran's nuclear ambitions, while also addressing domestic political pressures on the Foreign Secretary.
UK Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband has called on Israel to withdraw from Gaza and curb its settlements in the occupied West Bank during his first conversation with Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar. Miliband stated on X that he told Israel it "must crack down on settler violence and must immediately end blockages on aid into Gaza."
He further communicated that Hamas must decommission its weapons, the IDF should withdraw, and progress must be made on the 20-point plan for peace negotiations. The two ministers also addressed the "vital strategic interest" for both nations in preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons and reaffirmed the UK's dedication to a two-state solution for the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Miliband, appointed Foreign Secretary last month by Prime Minister Andy Burnham, has faced pressure from within his party regarding Israel's actions in Gaza, where over 73,000 Palestinians have been killed since October 2023. He is the first UK Foreign Secretary of Jewish descent since his brother, David Miliband, who held the position from 2007 to 2010.