In London, a group of British Palestinians gathered at a press conference on Monday to shed light on the devastating impact of the ongoing war in Gaza. Lubaba Khalid, the former Young Labour's BME representative, bravely spoke about the tragic loss of her relatives, which she learned about through social media due to communication difficulties caused by the conflict.

Khalid explained that the lack of electricity and network access had made it incredibly challenging for her to keep in touch with her family members and simply check if they were safe. She emotionally revealed that she discovered her great uncle's house had been bombed through a popular social media platform called X (formerly Twitter), before receiving any confirmation from her own relatives.

Tragically, the bombing resulted in the death of six members of Khalid's family, among them five innocent children. She shared her deep grief, joining five other speakers at the press conference organized by the UK-based International Centre of Justice for Palestinians, who also recounted the loss of numerous family members in Gaza.

UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak acknowledged the urgent need to address the suffering in Gaza as the immediate priority in the Middle East conflict. However, he emphasized the importance of working towards long-term stability in the region. Sunak called for unity in supporting a two-state solution, describing it as the closest path to achieving peace.

Sunak expressed his readiness to offer significant and enduring support to bolster the Palestinian Authority. He believed that they were the best option to challenge Hamas in the territory and encouraged the creation of a new political horizon.

During a keynote speech at the Lord Mayor's Banquet in the City of London, Sunak stressed his support for Israel's right to defend itself against terror. However, he called for greater efforts to ensure the safety of civilians during the war with Hamas. Sunak urged Israel to act within international law, emphasizing the need to protect innocent civilians, including those seeking refuge in hospitals. Additionally, he called for an end to extremist violence in the West Bank and the facilitation of aid into Gaza.

Sunak announced that the UK would double its aid to Gaza and was engaging directly with the UN and Israel to facilitate unhindered humanitarian access and urgent pauses in hostilities. He also offered British bases in Cyprus as staging posts for the distribution of aid.

Referring to the 7 October Hamas attacks on Israel, Sunak highlighted that the motivation stemmed not only from hatred but also from a fear that Israel was fostering newfound relationships within the Middle East. Sharing his personal experience of visiting Israel and meeting with the families of British victims, Sunak expressed his solidarity with their profound sorrow and acknowledged the existential fear that Israelis were enduring.

Desperate conditions prevail at Gaza City's largest hospital, Al-Shifa, as doctors report the consequences of fighting in close proximity and fuel shortages.

The press conference shed light on the personal stories of loss and tragedy experienced by British Palestinians. As calls for peace grow louder, it is imperative that efforts are made to alleviate the suffering in Gaza and work towards a lasting resolution in the Middle East.