A visit by Oxford East MP Anneliese Dodds to Jordan, where she announced £6million in funding to help support vulnerable families in Gaza, has been branded a "year too late."
Ms Dodds was appointed minister for Development after Labour emerged victorious in the July 4 General Election where the politician kept her safe seat.
Prior to that, she had come under criticism for initially abstaining from a ceasefire vote last year in the earlier days of an Israeli military operation in Gaza which has now killed around 40,000 Palestinians, following Hamas attacks on Israel in October.
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Mr Dodds says "we are seeing the humanitarian impact of conflict on Gazans" and she is "grateful to the Jordanian Government for supporting UK efforts to get aid to those in such desperate need".
Independent Oxford Alliance councillor David Henwood said: "This is pure hypocrisy on the part of Ms Dodds who originally refused to sign early day motion to suspend the siege of Gaza and allow aid into the region.
"The £6m worth of aid being offered to support the people of Gaza is welcome, but it is a year late."
During her visit, Ms Dodds met Jordanian Minister of Finance, Mohamad Al Ississ, and the foreign ministry’s Secretary General, Majid Al-Qatarneh.
This week, the UK also announced it is allocating £14 million to support Syrian refugees living in the Zaatari refugee camp on the Jordan-Syria border.
Jordan is home to more than three million refugees, many of them from neighbouring Syria.
Ms Dodds said: "We are seeing the humanitarian impact of conflict on Gazans.
"This new UK support will provide a lifeline for vulnerable families, giving them access to basic food and water during a desperate time.
"But this appalling situation cannot continue. We must see an immediate ceasefire, the release of hostages and unfettered access to lifesaving aid for those in Gaza.
"UK funding will support the vaccination and immunisation of over 20,000 children, provide over 8,000 school-aged children with recreational activities to boost their wellbeing and help over 55,000 people in Gaza access clean water and sanitation.”
Oxford West and Abingdon MP Layla Moran said: "I welcome Anneliese Dodds to her new role in the Foreign Office and welcome this aid package.
"The situation in Gaza is beyond desperate and humanitarian aid is desperately needed to provide food and medical care.
“What we really need is an immediate bilateral ceasefire. That is the only way to end the killing and get the hostages safely home.
"But a ceasefire cannot be a pause only for violence to resume - we must think about how we stop this ever happening again. There is only one viable answer, which is a two-state solution."
Ms Dodds has been contacted for comment on Mr Henwood's comments.
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About the author
Noor is the Local Democracy Reporter for Oxfordshire who covers political stories from across the county.
She began working as a journalist in Oxford in September 2023 having graduated from the University of Oxford.
Noor was trained at the News Associates journalism school and can be found on X through the handle @NoorJQurashi
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