The officials in key roles
UK: Keir Starmer, prime minister; David Lammy, foreign secretary; Jonathan Reynolds, business and trade secretary; John Healey, defence secretary. US: Donald Trump, president; Marco Rubio, secretary of state; Pete Hegseth, defence secretary. Acting UN representative in the cited June vote: Dorothy Shea.
What was reported at the time
Reuters reported the aid cutoff on 2 March and over 400 deaths reported by health authorities after renewed strikes on 18 March.
The warning
UK, French and German ministers warned on 5 March that the cutoff risked violating international humanitarian law. Lammy’s 20 March statement described the restrictions and civilian loss as appalling.
What governments did
The UK opposed resumed hostilities, called for investigation of a UN-compound incident and retained its partial export suspension. In May it paused new trade talks and imposed further settler sanctions. In June the UK voted for ceasefire and aid access; the US vetoed.
What was available
UK ministers could review the F-35 exception and other cooperation against renewed aid denial. US authorities could use military and diplomatic leverage to restore access instead of blocking the Council text.
Recorded warnings, limited measures and a US veto
UK protests and later trade measures did not amount to a general arms embargo. The US June veto prevented adoption of an available ceasefire-and-aid resolution.
Evidence boundaries
The March casualty figure is a contemporary reported total, not an independently audited count of criminal killings. Trade-talk suspension affected negotiations for a new agreement, not every existing trade relationship.
Sources
[S84, S85, S86, S87, S97, S94, S31]
Roles and powers are explained in the decision-maker map. Sources distinguish reporting, official decisions and legal conclusions.