British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced on Monday that the United Kingdom will increase by twenty million pounds (about 23 million euros) its humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip while “maintaining diplomatic pressure” to allow the passage of more aid convoys.

Sunak, returning from a tour in the Middle East, told the House of Commons: “We have previously committed to providing an additional ten million pounds (11.5 million euros) in additional support to help civilians in Gaza... And today I can announce that we are going further than that: we will provide twenty million An additional pound of humanitarian aid to Gaza,” according to Agence France-Presse.

A new aid convoy from Egypt

A new aid convoy crossed from Egypt to Gaza on Monday, according to what journalists at Agence France-Presse reported. It is the third heading to the besieged Strip since the start of the Israeli aggression on Gaza on October 7. The new convoy is in addition to two that entered the Strip on Saturday and Sunday.

An Egyptian Red Crescent official confirmed to Agence France-Presse that, “over the past two days, 34 humanitarian aid trucks were brought in in two batches through the crossing.”

 Paris calls for a “humanitarian truce”

French Prime Minister Elisabeth Bourne announced before the National Assembly on Monday that Paris is calling for a “humanitarian truce” to allow the distribution of aid in the Gaza Strip, which “may lead to a ceasefire.”

“The opening of the Rafah crossing is still very limited,” Bourne told the deputies. We call for opening the gate of Rafah to allow new (aid) passage. Distributing aid requires a humanitarian truce that may lead to a ceasefire.”

- The European Union wants additional aid for Gaza and intends to consider requesting a “humanitarian truce.”

European Union leaders will call this week for a “humanitarian truce” in the war waged by the Israeli occupation on the Gaza Strip, so that humanitarian aid can be safely delivered to Gaza, draft outcomes of an EU summit showed.

The leaders of the bloc, which includes 27 countries, will meet in Brussels on Thursday and Friday, in the so-called European Council, where the situation in the Middle East will be at the top of the agenda, according to Reuters.

 A humanitarian truce to allow aid to arrive

The draft outcomes of the summit showed that “the European Council supports the call of the Secretary-General of the United Nations (Antonio) Guterres for a humanitarian truce in order to allow safe delivery of humanitarian aid and aid to reach those in need.”

The draft, seen by Reuters, also stated: “The European Union will work closely with partners in the region to protect civilians, support those trying to reach safety or provide assistance and facilitate access to food, water, medical care, fuel and shelter.” The European Union reiterates the need for the immediate release of all hostages without any precondition.

Source: Agencies