Gaza, UK, France and Germany pledge airlift aid

The United Kingdom, France, and Germany have once again denounced the situation of the Palestinian civilian population in the Gaza Strip as"appalling," against the backdrop of Israeli raids and restrictions on essential supplies. They have announced a joint plan for the airlift of aid—reauthorized yesterday by Israel in response to growing international pressure—in partnership with countries such as Jordan. This was stated in a statement released today by Downing Street, following a new three-way phone call between Keir Starmer, Emmanuel Macron, and Friedrich Merz.

The commitment to reintroduce airdrops—a tool deemed insufficient and not without risks—had already been announced this morning in an interview by the British Prime Minister. It has now been formalized as part of an initiative by the E3 group with Paris and Berlin, which also includes a plan for"the evacuation of children in need of medical assistance."

The three leaders, according to the statement released by London,"agree on the vital need to ensure robust plans" not only on the humanitarian front, but also to achieve"an urgent ceasefire in Gaza that can be transformed into a lasting peace." Finally, they pledge to"work on a plan" that lays "the foundation for a long-term solution" for "the security of the region," based on the goal of two states for two peoples.