2 March 2026 13:06 UTC · UK Government · GOV.UK Speech · Source · Email X Link

UK Government urges humanitarian access and accountability

Key points

Urges unimpeded humanitarian aid to Gaza and respect for ceasefire
Calls for investigations and accountability in Tanzania and China; supports Ukraine's sovereignty

TL;DR

Urges Israel to allow and facilitate rapid, unimpeded humanitarian aid to Gaza in line with international law and to respect the ceasefire and 20-point peace plan.
Highlights rising violence and settlement activity in the West Bank as a risk to stability and prospects for peace.
Calls for an independent, transparent and inclusive investigation into post-election violence in Tanzania, citing evidence of extra-judicial killings and concealment of bodies.
Expresses concern about China’s transition from re-education camps to prisons and labour transfer schemes, calls for release of arbitrarily detained individuals, and reaffirms support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and UN mechanisms' accountability work.

Original text

Mr President, We are grateful for the High Commissioner’s update. The humanitarian situation in Gaza remains of serious concern. We urge Israel to allow and facilitate rapid and unimpeded passage of humanitarian aid in line with international law. We call on all parties to implement the 20-point peace plan and respect the ceasefire. In the West Bank, rising violence and settlement activity risk instability and undermines prospects for peace. Tanzania saw shocking violence following its elections in October, including evidence of extra-judicial killings and concealment of dead bodies. There must be an independent, transparent and inclusive investigation of these events to ensure accountability and that the fundamental freedoms and constitutional rights of all Tanzanians are protected. We appreciate your efforts to engage China, including on the findings of his Office’s Xinjiang Assessment from 2022. But we are concerned by continued evidence of China’s transition from using re-education camps to using prisons and labour transfer schemes. We call on China to address reports of forced labour, and restrictions on religious and cultural freedoms; China must release all arbitrarily detained individuals. Finally, we support unequivocally Ukraine’s sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity. We continue to support the work of UN mechanisms and their reporting - those responsible for violations and abuses of human rights must be held accountable. Thank you.

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