Politics
PM describes ‘malign’ influence of Iran, calls Gaza situation ‘intolerable’
Starmer defends the restoration of funding to Unrwa in Parliament
July 22, 2024 16:37
Starmer defends the restoration of funding to Unrwa in Parliament
July 22, 2024 16:37Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has spoken out about the disruptive role Iran is playing in the Middle East.
In a statement to Parliament on Monday on the Nato and European leaders’ summit earlier this month, Starmer said he had “discussed with world leaders how to deal with the malign influence of Iran, address their nuclear programme, manage the threat from the Houthis, ease tensions on Israel’s northern border and work with all partners to uphold regional security.”
In opposition, Labour had called for Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) to be proscribed.
Although the party’s election manifesto did not include a pledge to ban the group, it has been reported that Labour plans to bring in a “bespoke” proscription mechanism in order to make it easier for “state-based actors” to be formally declared as terror groups.
The Prime Minister also repeated calls for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and the return of Israeli hostages held by Hamas.
He told MPs, “I’ve spoken to the leaders of Israel and the Palestinian Authority. I’ve been clear that I fully support Israel’s right to security. The desperate need to see the hostages returned. I’ve also been clear that the situation in Gaza is intolerable.
"The world will not look away as innocent civilians including women and children continue to face death, disease and displacement. It cannot go on. We need an immediate ceasefire.”
He went on to defend his government’s resumption of funding to controversial UN Palestinian Agency Unrwa, which was announced last Friday.
The decision has been criticised by some groups, with pro-Israel campaigners StandWithUs UK expressing “profound concern and disappointment” at the restoration of funding and the Campaign Against Antisemitism calling it a “deeply regressive and dangerous step”.
Starmer said, “Hostages out. Aid in. A huge scale up of humanitarian assistance. That is the policy of this government. And an immediate ceasefire is the only way to achieve it. We will do all we can in pursuit of these goals.
“Which is why, as one of the first actions taken by this Government, we have restarted funding to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency, to deliver that crucial humanitarian report.”
The UK was one of several countries that stopped funding Unrwa in January 2024 after Israel accused its employees of participating in the October 7 attacks and subsequent violence.
Referring to Friday’s International Court of Justice (ICJ) advisory ruling that Israel’s settlement regime in the West Bank was illegal under international law, Starmer said the government would consider it before responding, but made clear his opposition to settlements.
The Prime Minister called for "peace and normalisation and the two-state solution. A recognised Palestinian state – the right of the Palestinian people – alongside a safe and secure Israel.”