‘The people of Palestine and Israel deserve better’: UK’s Lammy calls for ‘durable’ peace plan in UN speech

Palestinians and Israelis deserve better than the “indefensible” war in Gaza and the “horrific acts” carried out by Hamas on October 7, 2023, British Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy told the UN General Assembly in New York overnight.

Lammy, who was recently promoted to deputy prime minister from his previous post as foreign secretary, addressed the UN just days after British Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced that the UK would recognize an independent Palestinian state.

Calling Israel’s war in the Gaza Strip, where it has battled Hamas for the past two years, “indefensible” and “inhumane,” Lammy told the UN that “The people of Palestine, whose state we proudly recognized this week, and the people of Israel, deserve better.”

“Better than the horrific acts by Hamas on October 7th that left children without their parents, and parents without their children,” he said. “Better than the torment of families waiting desperately for the return of their loved ones from the most barbaric captivity.”

“Better than the fanatical rule by Hamas, a vile, pitiless terrorist organisation that must have no future in Gaza. Better than Israel’s denial of life-saving humanitarian aid and the catastrophic famine that it has caused,” Lammy continued.

“There can be no answer to these horrors but concerted diplomatic action,” he said, confirming the UK’s support for US President Donald Trump’s efforts to “build a consensus around a durable plan for peace.”

“There can be no answer except for the hostages out, now,” he reiterated. “Aid in, now. And a ceasefire, now.”

He added that the UK “will not rest” until there are “two states living side by side in peace and security.”