PARLIAMENTARY WRITTEN QUESTION
Gaza: Humanitarian Aid (5 September 2024)

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent assessment he has made of the implications for his policies of changes in the level of (a) humanitarian access, (b) protection of humanitarian facilities and personnel and (c) accountability in relation to violence against humanitarian facilities and personnel in Gaza since 5 July 2024; and what recent representations he has made to his Israeli counterpart on those issues.

Asked by:
Mr Calvin Bailey (Labour)

As set out in the Foreign Secretary's statement to the House on 2 September, it is the assessment of this Government that Israel could reasonably do more to ensure that life-saving food and medical supplies reach civilians in Gaza. I raised this concern with Israeli Ambassador to the UK Tzipi Hotovely during our meeting on 24 July, making clear that significantly more aid needed to be delivered for Israel to fulfil its commitment to 'flood' Gaza with aid.

We continue to press Israel for safe distribution of aid and an improved deconfliction mechanism to keep humanitarian operations safe from military operations. We have been clear that if Israel's personnel are responsible for incidents, they should be held accountable. All parties must abide by their obligations under international humanitarian law. This was raised by the Foreign Secretary in his visit to Israel on 16 August.

Answered by:
Mr Hamish Falconer (Labour)
12 September 2024