Asked by: Andrew Pakes (Labour (Co-op) - Peterborough)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, when his Department last met representatives of the UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA); and whether he plans to meet UNRWA in future.
Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The Foreign Secretary called UNRWA Commissioner General Lazzarini on 19 July to discuss the reinstatement of UK funding. Development Minister Anneliese Dodds also met with Lazzarini following the announcement on 19 July. They discussed how the UK's £21 million of new funding will support UNRWA's lifesaving work in Gaza and the provision of basic services in the region. We also condemned the killing of almost 200 UNRWA workers in the conflict. The Foreign Secretary also spoke with UNRWA Gaza Director Scott Anderson on 15 July during his visit to Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories. They also discussed the need for further protection of civilians in Gaza.
Asked by: Andrew Pakes (Labour (Co-op) - Peterborough)
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 implications for his policies of the security of UK-funded humanitarian projects in Gaza.
Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
UK funding is delivered mainly through trusted international partners on the ground. Humanitarian actors can only operate effectively if they have access to the whole of Gaza and it is safe for them to work there.
That is why we are calling for unfettered access for humanitarian organisations alongside an immediate ceasefire, the protection of civilians, the release of all hostages and a credible and irreversible pathway towards a two-state solution.
Asked by: Andrew Pakes (Labour (Co-op) - Peterborough)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what diplomatic steps his Department plans to take to help (a) secure an immediate ceasefire and (b) the release of hostages in Gaza.
Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
This Government is determined to do all we can to help bring the conflict in Gaza to an end and make progress towards long-term peace and security in the Middle East. We are pushing for an immediate ceasefire, the release of all hostages, the protection of civilians and unfettered humanitarian access to enable a rapid increase of aid into Gaza. We want a credible and irreversible pathway towards a two-state solution: a safe, secure Israel alongside a viable, sovereign Palestinian state.
The Foreign Secretary discussed these issues with Prime Minister Netanyahu, President Herzog, PM Mustafa and others during his visit to Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories on 14-15 July. He also met with the families of those murdered and taken hostage by Hamas and assured them that the UK will continue to push for an immediate release of all hostages.