British Foreign Minister Cleanly Says Gazans Current Don't Need Ceasefire

British Foreign Minister James Cleanly. (Wikimedia Commons/UKINUSA)

JAKARTA - British Foreign Minister James Cleanly said Palestinians needed help from a ceasefire in Gaza, calling for "realism" so that the escalating humanitarian crisis in the enclave could be overcome.

Foreign Minister Cleaverly assessed that calls to stop fighting too early because there was no indication from Hamas that they wanted peace with Israel after the October 7 attack that said killed 1,400 people in Israel.

"Squeezing the current ceasefire is not what the Palestinian people need. On the other hand, realism requires us to put pressure on dealing with the humanitarian situation in Gaza," he told Sky News Arabia, citing The National News Oct. 30.

Ceverly said efforts were underway to ensure aid did not reach Hamas, which he accused of stealing from Palestinians in Gaza.

He also supports Israel's claim that the militant group uses hospitals and other civilian locations to protect its network of tunnels.

Foreign Minister Cleanly further explained that Britain wanted to secure a humanitarian hiatus so that aid supplies could be transferred to Gaza, across its border with Egypt. But he did not call for a full ceasefire in the conflict.

Speaking at the British Ambassador's residence in Abu Dhabi, UAE, Cleanly told Reuters some of the aid had flowed to Gaza, but the number needed to be significantly increased.

"We are working extensively with Egypt, Israel and other countries to try and pause humanity, a temporary pause, so we can distribute humanitarian aid to people who need it."

It is known that the number of those killed in Gaza as of Sunday has increased to 7,950, the Palestinian Ministry of Health said in Ramallah, as quoted by CNN.

Nearly three-quarters (73 percent) of those killed were vulnerable groups, including children, women and the elderly, according to a ministry report, adding more than 20,000 people were injured.

The reported death toll included 116 medical personnel, as many hospitals were hit by military attacks.