Isle of Man joins call for intervention in Gaza
The chief minister has written a letter to the UK's Lord Chancellor
- Published
The Isle of Man has added its voice to mounting calls from the UK and United Nations for humanitarian intervention in Gaza.
The Chief Minister Alfred Cannan wrote to Lord Chancellor Shabana Mahmood following discussions with the Council of Ministers.
In the letter, Cannan explained that Tynwald debated and "voted to endorse the stated positions of the United Kingdom and the United Nations regarding the current situation in the Israel-Hamas conflict in Gaza".
He said: "The human impact of the escalating conflict on the population of Gaza is being viewed with mounting concern by many in the Isle of Man."
It comes after the UK and 28 other countries have called for an immediate end to the war.
'Add our voices'
More than 100 international aid organisations and human rights groups are warning of mass starvation in Gaza and pressing for governments to take action.
Médecins Sans Frontières, Save the Children and Oxfam are among the signatories of a joint statement that says their colleagues and the people they serve are "wasting away".
After further talks with ministers, Cannan said: "The deprivation of humanitarian assistance is unacceptable under the obligations of international humanitarian law."
He said: "We consider it an imperative for medical and food aid to be delivered and distributed safely.
"We support the United Kingdom's call that humanitarian relief must get through urgently to the civilian population and a ceasefire agreed.
"We respectfully add our voices to the many calls for influence and the imperative for action in order to bring about an end to the tragic suffering amongst the population of Gaza."
The Israeli government has said it acts in accordance with international law and facilitates the entry of aid while ensuring it does not reach Hamas.
It has acknowledged recently that there has been a significant drop in supplies reaching Palestinians but has blamed UN agencies for the decline.
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