This video can not be playedTo play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser.The UK government has been urged not to deploy troops on the ground in Gaza to deliver aid, with one MP calling the idea “completely insane”.The UK is understood to be considering tasking troops with driving trucks via an American-built floating pier onto a beach in Gaza.Ex-Immigration Minister Robert Jenrick said such a move would be “unwise” and urged the government to rule it out.Defence Minister Leo Docherty said he would not comment on speculation. The US military is building a large floating causeway off the coast of Gaza to help deliver much-needed humanitarian aid to the area.In a briefing to journalists, a senior US military official said American troops would not take the aid ashore and that this role would be carried out by a “significant partner”. He confirmed the job would be carried out by another nation rather than a private military company. The official said a “third party” would be driving trucks down the pier but refused to name who that would be. UK forces may be deployed to help deliver Gaza aidInside the US plan to get food into Gaza by seaMy struggle to keep family safe while reporting the Gaza warIs Israel meeting promise to let more aid into Gaza?The Ministry of Defence has declined to comment on suggestions the third party could be UK forces. One UK source told the BBC nothing had been decided but there was a debate going on about “do we put wet boots on the beach, do we drive trucks onto the pier?”On Monday, Labour’s shadow defence secretary John Healey used an urgent question in Parliament to ask the minister if he could confirm “weekend reports that UK troops could be deployed to deliver aid on the ground in Gaza”. “How will the defence secretary report to this house and ensure that Parliament has a say on any such deployment?”Mr Docherty said the government was “not going to comment on the speculation that there might be a ground role for UK forces”.Tory MP Sir Julian Lewis, chair of the Intelligence and Security Committee, said it would be a “completely insane idea” and argued a better option would be for “moderate Arab neighbouring states” to distribute the aid. Defence Committee Chair Sir Jeremy Quin said he understood the minister could not comment but warned that “some of the best laid, best intentioned of plans can run into problems”.He sought assurances that the UK would only contemplate “UK boots on the pier” if “appropriate” protection was in place.The Liberal Democrat’s defence spokesperson Richard Foord said that if UK troops were deployed in Gaza, MPs should first be given a debate and vote on the subject. Former Labour leader – now an independent MP – Jeremy Corbyn asked the government to assure MPs the government will “not be deploying British tro …
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[mwai_chat context=”Let’s have a discussion about this article:nnThis video can not be playedTo play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser.The UK government has been urged not to deploy troops on the ground in Gaza to deliver aid, with one MP calling the idea “completely insane”.The UK is understood to be considering tasking troops with driving trucks via an American-built floating pier onto a beach in Gaza.Ex-Immigration Minister Robert Jenrick said such a move would be “unwise” and urged the government to rule it out.Defence Minister Leo Docherty said he would not comment on speculation. The US military is building a large floating causeway off the coast of Gaza to help deliver much-needed humanitarian aid to the area.In a briefing to journalists, a senior US military official said American troops would not take the aid ashore and that this role would be carried out by a “significant partner”. He confirmed the job would be carried out by another nation rather than a private military company. The official said a “third party” would be driving trucks down the pier but refused to name who that would be. UK forces may be deployed to help deliver Gaza aidInside the US plan to get food into Gaza by seaMy struggle to keep family safe while reporting the Gaza warIs Israel meeting promise to let more aid into Gaza?The Ministry of Defence has declined to comment on suggestions the third party could be UK forces. One UK source told the BBC nothing had been decided but there was a debate going on about “do we put wet boots on the beach, do we drive trucks onto the pier?”On Monday, Labour’s shadow defence secretary John Healey used an urgent question in Parliament to ask the minister if he could confirm “weekend reports that UK troops could be deployed to deliver aid on the ground in Gaza”. “How will the defence secretary report to this house and ensure that Parliament has a say on any such deployment?”Mr Docherty said the government was “not going to comment on the speculation that there might be a ground role for UK forces”.Tory MP Sir Julian Lewis, chair of the Intelligence and Security Committee, said it would be a “completely insane idea” and argued a better option would be for “moderate Arab neighbouring states” to distribute the aid. Defence Committee Chair Sir Jeremy Quin said he understood the minister could not comment but warned that “some of the best laid, best intentioned of plans can run into problems”.He sought assurances that the UK would only contemplate “UK boots on the pier” if “appropriate” protection was in place.The Liberal Democrat’s defence spokesperson Richard Foord said that if UK troops were deployed in Gaza, MPs should first be given a debate and vote on the subject. Former Labour leader – now an independent MP – Jeremy Corbyn asked the government to assure MPs the government will “not be deploying British tro …nnDiscussion:nn” ai_name=”RocketNews AI: ” start_sentence=”Can I tell you more about this article?” text_input_placeholder=”Type ‘Yes'”]
