The United Kingdom promised to provide 19 million pounds ($24m) in funding for Gaza ahead of the humanitarian conference in Egypt, Al Jazeera reports.

Annelise Dodds, the UK’s international development minister, who is set to attend the conference, described the situation in Gaza as “catastrophic” and urged Israel to ensure “unimpeded aid access to Gaza”.

She added, “Gazans​ are in desperate need of food, and shelter with the onset of winter […] I will meet counterparts both in Israel and the [occupied Palestinian territory] to discuss the need to remove these impediments, bring about a ceasefire, free the hostages and find a lasting solution to the conflict.”