The United Kingdom has announced a significant new contribution aimed at easing the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, pledging £4 million to support the removal of landmines and unexploded ordnance that are currently blocking vital aid routes. The announcement, made by Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper on October 30, 2025, comes as the fragile ceasefire between Israel and Hamas continues to hold, offering a rare window for increased humanitarian assistance to reach those in desperate need.
This funding will be channeled through the United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS), an agency tasked with the daunting job of clearing an estimated 7,500 tonnes of unexploded munitions from Gaza. According to the UK Foreign Office, these remnants of war have been a major obstacle, preventing not only the safe passage of humanitarian convoys but also impeding the return of displaced Palestinians to their homes and the broader reconstruction efforts so urgently needed in the territory.
“The situation in Gaza is desperate without the vital humanitarian support they need. We must do everything we can to flood Gaza with aid,” Cooper said, as quoted by BBC. She underscored the necessity of this demining effort, adding, “Today I am announcing £4 million for the UNMAS in Gaza, funding that will help clear the explosives and rubble as part of the UK’s effort to ensure aid can be delivered safely. We will not be able to get relief at the scale so desperately needed in Gaza without clearing munitions and making progress on the pathway for lasting peace.”
The Foreign Office emphasized that this initiative is more than just a technical exercise; it is a “vital component” of the US-brokered ceasefire deal and a prerequisite for transitioning to the next stage of the peace process. The truce, which took effect on October 10, 2025, has already led to a notable increase in the flow of aid into Gaza. However, distribution remains hampered by ongoing security concerns and restrictions. Israel, for its part, has limited the number of aid trucks allowed into the enclave, citing delays by Hamas in returning the bodies of deceased hostages as a primary reason for maintaining tight controls.
Cooper is set to visit the Middle East at the end of the week, where she will continue to press for expanded aid access, support for the United Nations and other humanitarian NGOs, and concrete action on reconstruction. Before her trip, she visited the Halo Trust project in Wilton, Wiltshire, on October 30, 2025, to meet British deminers who are actively involved in the Gaza operation and to confer with representatives from UNMAS, the Halo Trust, and the Mines Advisory Group (MAG). According to the Foreign Office, Halo and MAG—both UK-based organizations—are responsible for clearing 69% of all civilian landmines worldwide, underscoring the global reach and expertise of British demining efforts.
Landmines and unexploded ordnance, often buried just beneath the surface or hidden among rubble, pose a constant threat to anyone attempting to deliver aid, rebuild infrastructure, or simply return home. These devices are triggered by contact, making even the most basic movement through affected areas perilous. The scale of the challenge in Gaza is immense, with UNMAS estimating that the 7,500 tonnes of unexploded munitions currently present represent one of the most significant obstacles to humanitarian access in the region.
Richard Boulter, UNMAS chief of design, operational support, and oversight, described the situation in stark terms. “We are pulling out all the stops to tackle unexploded ordnance that threatens the lives of Palestinians striving to find food and return to their homes,” he told ITV News. Boulter welcomed the UK’s contribution, calling it “an essential boost to this effort.”
The UK’s involvement is not limited to funding alone. The Foreign Office detailed that the £4 million pledge will support the deployment of explosives experts, the provision of specialized equipment, and the delivery of educational programs designed to help locals identify and avoid dangerous areas. These measures are intended not only to speed up the clearance process but also to reduce the risk of further casualties as Gaza’s population attempts to rebuild amid the rubble.
The broader context of this initiative is the ongoing humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza, which has been exacerbated by years of conflict and, most recently, by the events of October 7, 2023. On that day, Hamas launched a major attack on southern Israel, resulting in the deaths of 1,200 people and the abduction of 251 others. Israel’s subsequent military campaign in Gaza has, according to the territory’s Hamas-run health ministry, led to more than 68,500 deaths. The sheer scale of destruction has left much of the enclave in ruins, with basic services disrupted and large swathes of the population displaced.
Despite the ceasefire, the situation remains tense and deeply complex. While aid agencies have reported a significant uptick in the distribution of food, medical supplies, and other essentials since October 10, 2025, the process is still hampered by security restrictions and the ever-present danger of unexploded bombs and mines. The Foreign Office has made it clear that clearing these hazards is not only a humanitarian imperative but also a necessary step toward achieving a sustainable peace.
Cooper’s planned visit to the region is expected to focus on maintaining the momentum for aid access, bolstering support for the United Nations and humanitarian NGOs, and advocating for long-term reconstruction initiatives. As she told BBC, “We will not be able to get relief at the scale so desperately needed in Gaza without clearing munitions and making progress on the pathway for lasting peace.” Her remarks echo a broader consensus among international actors that humanitarian and security issues in Gaza are inextricably linked—and that meaningful progress on one front is impossible without advances on the other.
For the people of Gaza, the hope is that this new funding and the international attention it brings will translate into real improvements on the ground. As Richard Boulter of UNMAS put it, the UK’s support is not just a financial contribution but a lifeline for thousands of families seeking safety and stability after years of upheaval.
With the ceasefire holding and new resources being mobilized, the coming weeks will be critical. Whether these efforts can overcome the formidable challenges facing Gaza remains to be seen, but for now, the UK’s pledge stands as a tangible sign of international commitment to alleviating suffering and paving the way for a more hopeful future.
