UK seeks balanced position on Israel and Gaza, says new foreign minister Lammy

7/7/2024 6:25

        Britain wants a balanced position on the war in the Middle East and will use diplomatic efforts to ensure a ceasefire is reached and hostages held by Palestinian militant group Hamas are released, its new foreign minister David Lammy told Reuters.
        
        Lammy is on a visit to Germany, his first international trip following the Labour Party's thumping victory in Britain's election on Friday, which ended 14 years of Conservative government and propelled Keir Starmer to power as prime minister.
        
        "The time has come for the United Kingdom to reconnect with the outside world," Lammy said in an interview in Berlin.
        
        "I want to get back to a balanced position on Israel and Gaza. We've been very clear that we want to see a ceasefire ... We want to see those hostages out."
        
        He added: "The fighting has to stop, the aid has got to get in, and I will use all diplomatic efforts to ensure that we get to that ceasefire."
        
        Lammy did not elaborate.