UK seeks to expand aid cooperation with Kuwait in Gaza and beyond

• Mark Bryson-Richardson praised Kuwait’s government and charities for their ongoing humanitarian efforts and emphasized the UK’s commitment to strengthening humanitarian and development partnerships with Kuwait.

Mark Bryson-Richardson, the British Foreign Secretary’s Representative for Humanitarian Affairs in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, praised Kuwait’s government and charities for their ongoing humanitarian efforts. He emphasized the United Kingdom’s commitment to strengthening humanitarian and development partnerships with Kuwait, both in Gaza and beyond, Al Rai newspaper reported.

This was stated during a press conference he held with representatives of Kuwaiti newspapers at the British Embassy, before his departure.

Meetings with Kuwaiti officials

Richardson highlighted his meetings with several Kuwaiti officials, including the Acting Director General of the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development. He noted that the UK’s Commonwealth and Development Office signed two memorandums of understanding with the fund last September, committing $6 million in joint financing—split equally—to support UNICEF’s efforts in restoring water and sanitation systems in Gaza and sustaining primary healthcare services in Yemen.

He also met with the Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Arab World Affairs, Development, and International Cooperation. Additionally, he held discussions with UN Resident Coordinator in Kuwait Ghada Al-Taher, H. E. Rami Tahboub, the Palestinian ambassador to Kuwait, and representatives from the Sheikh Abdullah Al-NouriCharity Association, the Kuwait Relief Society, and the International Islamic Charitable Organization.

Richardson further engaged with the Director of International Trade for the UK-funded Export Program, which assists Palestinian companies in exporting their products to foreign markets, including Kuwait.

Improvement in the flow of aid

When asked about the impact of the ceasefire agreement between the occupation army and Hamas on the humanitarian situation in Gaza, Richardson said there had been some improvement in the flow of aid, with more trucks crossing into Gaza daily, but significant challenges remained.

£129 million in humanitarian assistance

He emphasized that the United Kingdom provided £129 million in humanitarian assistance to the occupied territories in the current fiscal year, including £41 million to UNRWA.

Regarding former U.S. President Donald Trump’s calls for residents of Gaza to temporarily relocate to Egypt or Jordan, he stated: “The Palestinian people have sovereignty over the Strip and the right to determine their future.”

Richardson highlighted that the UK is working with partners such as the World Bank, the United Nations Development Program, and the Palestinian Authority on reconstruction plans. He expressed confidence that Kuwait would continue to play a key role in supporting Palestinian efforts, whether individually or through its presidency of the Gulf Cooperation Council.

Support for a two-state solution

He reaffirmed the United Kingdom’s strong support for a two-state solution and its continued efforts to respond to settlement expansion, increasing settler violence, and growing restrictions on Palestinian civilians in the West Bank. He also called on the international community to support the Palestinian Authority.

Good faith needed for prisoner exchange process

Richardson condemned “the conditions of detention faced by detainees on both sides, in Gaza and Tel Aviv, noting that Israel’s treatment of Palestinian prisoners was one of the three main reasons the United Kingdom suspended the Israeli army’s arms export licenses for Gaza.” He urged all parties to “continue the ongoing prisoner exchanges in good faith to pave the way for the crucial second phase of the ceasefire agreement.”