London — UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has recalled his cabinet from summer recess for an emergency meeting on the Gaza humanitarian crisis, as international pressure mounts for immediate action to prevent mass starvation. The meeting, scheduled for 14:00 BST on Tuesday, will focus on a proposed European-backed peace plan and efforts to scale up aid delivery to civilians trapped in the besieged enclave. The announcement came a day after Starmer met with US President Donald Trump in Scotland to discuss the worsening conditions in Gaza.
“This week is a turning point,” PM Starmer told reporters Monday. “We must act decisively to support those facing extreme hunger and suffering.”
Humanitarian groups say the next few days are critical. David Miliband, president of the International Rescue Committee, said bluntly, “In the coming days, thousands of Gaza’s children will either be rescued or allowed to die. That’s the choice before us.”
Despite new Israeli measures, including 10-hour daily pauses in military activity in Al Mawasi, Deir al-Balah, and Gaza City, aid agencies say the response remains inadequate. The Israeli military said the tactical pauses began Sunday and would allow humanitarian convoys to move safely during daylight hours. The IDF also confirmed that designated aid corridors would remain open from 06:00 to 23:00 local time.
On the ground, the UN reported that over 200 aid trucks were distributed Monday, with another 260 waiting at the border. But the UN estimates at least 500 trucks are needed each day to meet urgent needs across Gaza, where over two million people remain trapped under siege.
Air drops have resumed, but aid groups warn they are limited in reach, difficult to coordinate, and sometimes dangerous. Footage from Gaza shows desperate civilians swarming trucks and fighting over food bags an image aid officials say underscores the need for a larger, secure ground operation.
Speaking in Scotland on Monday, President Trump publicly acknowledged the severity of Gaza’s crisis. When asked if he agreed with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s claim that hunger reports were exaggerated, Trump replied, “Based on television, not particularly, because those children look very hungry.”
“That’s real starvation stuff,” President Trump added. “You can’t fake that.” Trump said the US would step up its involvement in humanitarian assistance, though specific plans have not yet been disclosed.
Downing Street has not released full details of Starmer’s proposed peace framework, but a government spokesperson said it would be shared with Arab and European allies in the coming days. Starmer compared the plan to a previously proposed “coalition of the willing” intended to support a deal to end the war in Ukraine.
Meanwhile, Foreign Secretary David Lammy is expected to address the UN Security Council in New York later this week, reinforcing the UK’s call for immediate humanitarian access and support for a lasting ceasefire.
The recall of the UK cabinet underscores the growing urgency of the Gaza crisis and the political pressure on world leaders to take action. Israel continues to deny responsibility for food shortages, maintaining that it supports aid operations while targeting militant threats.
But aid agencies insist that unless Israel opens more border crossings and establishes protected corridors for aid delivery, the risk of mass famine will grow.
“This is not a question of logistics anymore,” said one aid official. “It’s a question of survival.”
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