UK Middle East minister in ceasefire talks, calls Gaza situation "desperate"

Lord Ahmed, the UK's minister of state for the Middle East, is in the UAE to push for a ceasefire in the conflict in Israel and Gaza as the UK search for "long-term peace and stability in the region".

Ahmed will meet the UAE's foreign minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed, and the minister for international co-operation, Reem Al Hashimy. The UAE have developed close economic and security ties with Israel in recent years, and are a key nation in negotiating a potential ceasefire.

Ahmed will meet with senior officials to "discuss the conflict in Israel and Gaza and the humanitarian situation in Gaza", an official statement by the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office stated.

The purpose of the visit is to "build momentum on the UK initiative for an international ‘Contact Group’ for long-term peace and stability in the region", it continued.

The UK has trebled its aid commitment to the region this year, and this visit follows a tour last month where the foreign secretary visited Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories, Qatar, Turkey, Oman, Saudi Arabia and Lebanon to discuss the conflict and regional security.

Lord Ahmed said: "The humanitarian situation in Gaza is desperate and there is an urgent need for an immediate pause to get life-saving aid in and hostages out.

The UK remains firmly committed to working with our key partners – like the UAE – to secure an immediate pause in fighting, make progress towards a sustainable ceasefire, and build momentum towards a long-term political solution to the crisis."