Britain chastises delay in delivering aid to civilians, calls for opening Gaza crossings

London: Britain has called for the opening of all crossings into Gaza to ensure unhindered humanitarian access, stressing the urgent necessity of allo...

London: Britain has called for the opening of all crossings into Gaza to ensure unhindered humanitarian access, stressing the urgent necessity of allowing aid delivery without delay.

It also criticised the prolonged delays in aid reaching Gaza, noting that a shipment of more than 1,100 UK‑funded tents sent to the enclave took over a year to arrive.

UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper expressed concern that other UK‑funded assistance has still been unable to reach the population, despite the ceasefire between Hamas and Israel.

The situation in Gaza remains dire, with the United Nations estimating that 1.5 million people are in urgent need of shelter amid worsening weather and falling temperatures before winter, Cooper warned, welcoming the arrival of the aid but noting that it is just a step toward the major reconstruction Gaza needs.

Earlier this year, another consignment of aid was stuck at the border in Jordan. This cannot be allowed to continue, she stressed.