Aid could be delivered to Gaza by sea, Rishi announces - as he says the UK is 'actively exploring' other ways to get supplies to civilians in need

Aid could be delivered to Gaza by sea, Rishi Sunak announced yesterday as fighting resumed in the region.

New routes to get help to Palestinian civilians will be explored due to Government concerns that not enough is getting through the Rafah crossing from Egypt.

Speaking on the sidelines of the climate conference in Dubai, he said: 'I strongly welcomed the pause in fighting to get hostages out, and we've been using the opportunity to get more aid into Gaza. 

'The UK has trebled its aid, but still not enough is getting in via Rafah and other crossings. 

'So we are actively exploring other routes, including by sea.'

It is understood the UK could use ships already in the area to deliver aid to either Gaza or Egypt.

Mr Sunak also called on Israel to take maximum care to protect civilians.

In the strongest terms he has used so far, the Prime Minister said that he would be opposed to anything that involved the mass displacement of people. 

Israel has told civilians in the north of the strip to move to the south while it fights Hamas terrorists.

'I've said before that the number of civilian casualties and the scale of the suffering has been far too high,' he added.

'We're making it clear that Israel must take maximum care to protect civilian life. We're opposed to anything that would involve the mass displacement of people.'