LONDON: David Lammy, the newly appointed Foreign Secretary of the UK, reaffirmed his support on Friday for international efforts to achieve an immediate ceasefire in the Gaza war.
Lammy, 51, in his first remarks after becoming the country’s top diplomat said he would pursue tireless diplomacy towards this aim.
New Labour Prime Minister Keir Starmer had confirmed the appointment of Lammy as new Foreign Secretary. He has been the party’s spokesperson on foreign affairs since 2021.
“All of us recognise the agony of communities who have seen the scenes coming out of Israel and Gaza,” Lammy said from the Foreign Office.
He said that his job now is to work with tireless diplomacy to support an immediate ceasefire and move towards freeing the captives.
Lammy, who replaced Conservative David Cameron as foreign secretary, said that he will do his best to support US President Joe Biden’s efforts to secure the ceasefire in Gaza.
Biden announced a pathway to a peace deal in May that he said had been proposed by Israel. It included an initial six-week ceasefire, Israeli withdrawal from Gaza population centres and the freeing of captives.
Israel’s spy chief visited Qatar on Friday for the latest effort to secure a deal and free captives.
The UK government under Rishi Sunak has supported the US-led efforts, and Labour is not expected to represent a shift in British policy towards the conflict.
