Oral Answers to Questions

Alistair Strathern Excerpts

Tuesday 2nd September 2025 Commons Chamber

[Dr Roz Savage (South Cotswolds) (LD)]

3. What diplomatic steps he is taking to help ensure humanitarian aid can reach people in Gaza.

[Alistair Strathern (Hitchin) (Lab)]

7. What steps he is taking to help increase levels of aid entering Gaza.

[Sarah Green (Chesham and Amersham) (LD)]

10. What diplomatic steps he is taking to help ensure humanitarian aid can reach people in Gaza.

--- Later in debate ---

[Mr Falconer]

The hon. Lady raises vital questions. The IPC—integrated food security phase classification—report over the recess was truly horrifying: 500,000 people in Gaza are facing famine. We continue to take the actions that we discussed in the House yesterday afternoon, in relation to recognition and the suspension of arms that could be used in Gaza.

[Alistair Strathern]

I share many of my constituents’ despair and anger about the intolerable suffering in Gaza. Last year, I had the privilege of meeting one of my constituents, Becky, to hear about her heartbreaking experience of delivering medical aid in Palestine. Devastatingly, a year on, the situation is much worse, with Gaza now the child amputee capital of the world and thousands more families pushed to starvation. There have been some welcome moves from the Government in recent months, but clearly not enough has yet been done—nothing can be until the suffering has stopped. What further urgent action can we take to finally secure access to the aid that Gaza desperately needs, and end this intolerable suffering?

[Mr Falconer]

I thank my hon. Friend and his constituent, Becky. Over the recess, I met doctors who have served in Gaza. Hearing their first-hand accounts of the injuries that children are suffering there was truly horrifying. We continue to press the Israeli Government. They must act urgently to lift restrictions, open up aid flows and enable the UN and international non-governmental organisations to carry out their lifesaving work without obstruction. The Foreign Secretary delivered that message to Foreign Minister Sa’ar just last week, and over the past month we have delivered strong, co-ordinated messages with partners through joint statements.