Yvette Cooper sounds dire Gaza warning as she piles pressure on Israel

Yvette Cooper Issues Urgent Gaza Warning

Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper emphasized that food and shelter supplies sent by the UK for Gaza have been stuck in warehouses for months, stressing that the people of Gaza cannot afford to wait for aid.

Pressure on Israel to Lift Restrictions

Cooper is urging Israel to lift restrictions on lifesaving supplies during her first visit to the Middle East as Foreign Secretary. She will travel to Jordan on Monday to see firsthand how crucial aid is being delayed at the border.

Visiting Blocked UK-Funded Aid Warehouse

During her visit, Cooper plans to inspect a warehouse filled with aid funded by Britain that remains blocked from entering the war-torn Gaza Strip.

“The people of Gaza cannot afford to wait.”

Concerns Over Humanitarian Crisis

Speaking in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Cooper described the situation as a "man-made famine" with real malnutrition, especially among children. While aid is beginning to flow back, she insists on accelerating its delivery.

“We've seen man-made famine. We've seen real malnutrition among children. Aid is starting to get back in but we want to accelerate that. We have aid that's being held in Jordan that the UK has provided. We want to see that getting in.”

Diplomatic Talks on Long-Term Peace

Cooper held discussions with Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan about securing a lasting peace following the fragile ceasefire between Israel and Hamas.

“We all know that the ceasefire is still fragile, therefore, what are the things that we need to do and we need other countries to do together to support this process and make sure that we can get a just and lasting peace.”

Summary

Yvette Cooper’s visit highlights urgent humanitarian delays and stresses the need for international cooperation to secure both immediate aid access and a lasting peace in Gaza.

The Mirror — 2025-11-03