David Lammy visited Qatar today as he sought to quell Middle East tensions and renewed a call for the ‘devastating’ war in Gaza to end.
The Foreign Secretary, together with Defence Secretary John Healey, made a trip to the Gulf to press for a halt to the Israel-Hamas conflict.
Their talks with Qatari leaders in Doha came just hours after Hamas‘s political leader Ismail Haniyeh was killed in an overnight airstrike on Iranian capital Tehran.
Both Hamas and Iran have blamed Israel for the strike.
Since the October 7 terror attacks by Hamas on Israel, Qatar has become a key intermediary in the Gaza conflict.
Meanwhile, Israel has claimed responsibility for a strike on a suburb of Beirut, Lebanon, targeting a Hezbollah commander.
They were allegedly behind the deaths of 12 children and teenagers in a rocket attack on the Israeli-controlled Golan Heights on Saturday.
The recent strikes have added to growing fears that tensions over the Gaza war could spill over into a wider regional conflict.
Foreign Secretary David Lammy met with Qatar’s leader Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani in Doha
Defence Secretary John Healey also made the trip to the Gulf as the UK Government presses for a halt to the Israel-Hamas war
Their talks with Qatari leaders in Doha came just hours after Hamas ‘s political leader Ismail Haniyeh was killed in an overnight airstrike on Iranian capital Tehran
‘Escalation and destabilisation are in no-one’s interests,’ Foreign Secretary Mr Lammy said during his visit to Qatar.
He added: ‘It is absolutely vital that we engage closely with partners like Qatar, who play a key role in mediating the conflict in Gaza, so that we can bring this devastating war to an end.
‘The UK and Qatar have a long-standing and close partnership, and we will also look to build lasting stability and security in the region, and advance our shared priorities, like deepening economic ties, to drive UK growth and seize the opportunities of the clean energy transition.’
Mr Healey said de-escalation of the fighting must be the ‘primary focus’ of the UK and its allies.
The Defence Secretary added: ‘All sides must step back from conflict and step up diplomacy. We will work with important partners like Qatar as our Government leads a renewed push for peace.’
Mr Lammy and Mr Healey met with Qatar’s leader Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani and his ministers, and were also due to meet British troops based in the region.
