Davey urges PM to pressure Trump on ending the humanitarian disaster in Gaza
EMBARGO: Immediate release
Ed Davey has written to the Prime Minister urging him to work with President Trump to bring an end to the humanitarian disaster in Gaza ahead of the US President’s visit to the UK this weekend.
In his letter, Davey emphasised that Starmer has a “crucial window” to persuade President Trump to take decisive action to end the conflict in Gaza. Davey condemned Trump’s grotesque previous comments on Gaza, while acknowledging the US President’s significant sway over Prime Minister Netanyahu.
The Liberal Democrats are urging Starmer to highlight the importance of securing an immediate halt to the Israeli Government’s military action in Gaza and to put an end to the devastating aid blockade.
That includes calling on the Prime Minister to push Trump for a joint UK-US Resolution to the United Nations Security Council. This would call for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza alongside the reopening of UN-administered humanitarian corridors into the Strip.
In addition, Davey pressed Starmer to officially recognise the independent state of Palestine and call on the Trump administration to do the same.
These calls come as over a hundred humanitarian organisations have warned that the population of Gaza is at risk of mass starvation – with Liberal Democrats pressuring the UK Government to begin airdropping humanitarian aid into the occupied territory in response to the humanitarian catastrophe.
Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey said:
“No one has forgotten the disgusting calls President Trump made in February for Palestinians to be removed from Gaza. We need to be clear-eyed about the man we’re dealing with.
“But it’s also obvious that Trump has unique leverage over Prime Minister Netanyahu, and the President’s visit to the UK this weekend offers a crucial window to appeal to him for decisive collective action over Gaza.
“We cannot sit idly by while the humanitarian catastrophe in the Strip worsens even further. That’s why Keir Starmer must seize the opportunity of Trump’s visit with both hands – and push him to agree to a joint UN Security Council Resolution for an immediate ceasefire and comprehensive lifting of the aid blockade.”
ENDS
Notes to Editor:
Full letter can be read here
