Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the potential implications for his policies of the Defense for Children International – Palestine's report entitled Starving a generation: Israel’s famine campaign targeting Palestinian children in Gaza, published on 24 June 2025.

Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

We are appalled by the dire humanitarian crisis in Gaza, where famine is now unfolding, as confirmed by the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) on 29 July. This is unacceptable. While the Israeli Defence Forces' "tactical pauses" are a necessary step, they are long overdue. We highlighted the critical situation for Gaza's children through our statement at the UN Security Council on 30 June and at the International Development Committee on 16 July. The UK continues to demand that a full and unhindered resumption of aid into Gaza takes place immediately. Israel must immediately allow the UN and aid partners to safely deliver aid at scale and in line with humanitarian principles. We remain committed to ensuring UK support reaches those who need it - including our £101 million package of financial support to the Occupied Palestinian Territories this Financial Year.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the relationship between the UK and Israel.

Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The UK government has taken action in response to the egregious activity of the Israeli government in Gaza and the West Bank. The actions of this Israeli government are isolating Israel from its friends and partners around the world and in response we have suspended negotiations with the Israeli government on a new free trade agreement. We will also review cooperation under the 2030 Bilateral Roadmap.

The decision made by the Israeli Government on 8 August to further escalate its offensive in Gaza is wrong, and we urge it to reconsider immediately. This action will do nothing to bring an end to this conflict or to help secure the release of the hostages. It will only bring more bloodshed.

Every day the humanitarian crisis in Gaza worsens and hostages taken by Hamas are being held in appalling and inhuman conditions. What we need is a ceasefire, a surge in humanitarian aid, the release of all hostages by Hamas and a negotiated solution. Hamas can play no part in the future of Gaza and must leave as well as disarm.

Together with our allies, we are working on a long-term plan to secure peace in the region as part of a two-state solution, and ultimately achieve a brighter future for Palestinians and Israelis. As part of this, on 29 July, the Prime Minister announced the UK will recognise the state of Palestine in September before the United Nations General Assembly; unless the Israeli government takes substantive steps to end the appalling situation in Gaza and commits to a long-term sustainable peace. These actions do not undermine our support for the Israeli people, our commitment to their security, and standing with them against the evil of antisemitism.

This financial year we have allocated £101 million for the Occupied Palestinian Territories, covering our significant humanitarian response in Gaza and the West Bank, our support for Palestinian economic development, reform of the Palestinian Authority, and supporting Palestinian refugees in the region.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether his Department provides funding for the Inter Mediate office assisting the Syrian president.

Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office funds a number of different civil society and non-governmental organisations for our mediation and conflict resolution work, including Inter Mediate. We have partnered with Inter Mediate for over 10 years to advance peace efforts in conflicts around the globe. Funding of Inter Mediate began under the previous government. We do not disclose details of the individual projects funded.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to raise concerns about the treatment of (a) Christians and (b) other religious minorities in Mali at the United Nations.

Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The UK strongly condemns attacks on religious minorities in Mali. We have consistently called on all actors in Mali to respect human rights and adhere to international human rights law. For example, at the April 2025 Security Council briefing on the UN Office for West Africa and the Sahel, the UK expressed concern at the human rights abuses committed in the Sahel and called on the UN to lead the way in emphasising the importance of international humanitarian law. Through the Magna Carta Fund, the UK has also promoted ancient Malian texts enshrining progressive values such as religious tolerance. This has helped to underline that such values have local roots and undermine the notion that human rights are a Western import.

Around 60,000 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza since 2023 with at least 232 Gazan journalists killed according to Brown University Costs of War report. We are concerned UK journalists can’t get into Gaza. We urge the Government to make representations to Israel to allow UK journalists into Gaza

Place tariffs of 500% on all goods entering the UK from Israel until vital humanitarian supplies and services are fully and consistently restored to Gaza to levels deemed necessary by the UN. The humanitarian aid should include water, fuel and electricity as well as food and medical supplies.

We are concerned the UK-US trade deal could be implemented without a vote, consultation or impact assessment. We believe it affects food, farming, health, and data standards. We believe Parliament must be allowed to assess its consequences and vote before any further changes are made.

We urge the Government to:
*Commit to increasing support for food aid and humanitarian access.
*Use diplomatic channels to press for immediate, sustained, and unimpeded delivery of food and essential supplies.

We believe current Home Office policies for visa applications for individuals from the western regions of Ukraine are based on out-of-date information. We believe the war in Ukraine is escalating rapidly and the West is facing heavy attacks similar to other regions.

Found: Despite these allegations, the FCDO continues to advise against all but essential travel to those parts

Found: (2004) ESA European Space Agency EU European Union FCC Federal Communications Commission (USA) FCDO

Found: FCDO Services spending over £500, July 2025

Found: FCDO Services spending over £500, July 2025

Found: FCDO Services spending over £500, July 2025

Found: FCDO Services spend over £25,000, July 2025

Found: FCDO Services spend over £25,000, July 2025

Found: FCDO Services spend over £25,000, July 2025

Found: Strengthening hydrographic capability worldwide This year, in collaboration with the Foreign Commonwealth Development Office

Found: The FCDO and Defra were consulted in this application.

Found: The FCDO and Defra were consulted in this application.

Found: the Osaka Expo 2025, Minister McNeill will join the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO

Found: Strengthening hydrographic capability worldwide This year, in collaboration with the Foreign Commonwealth Development Office

Found: • Delivering the Report working in collaboration with DBT/FCDO/UKIPO and IPOP colleagues in Pakistan

Found: Accommodation elsewhere is provided by the FCDO and included in the "on platform" charges.2.

Found: :27 To: [redacted - s.38(1)(b)] <[redacted - s.38(1)(b)]@gov.scot> Subject: Official Sensitive - FCDO