Israel and Gaza Debate

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Department: Cabinet Office

Israel and Gaza

Andy Slaughter Excerpts
Monday 16th October 2023

(1 year, 1 month ago)

Commons Chamber
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Andy Slaughter Portrait Andy Slaughter (Hammersmith) (Lab)
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Our thoughts at this time must above all be with the Israeli and Palestinian civilian dead and injured, and with the hostages. According to Medical Aid for Palestinians, over 2,700 Palestinians have been killed so far in air attacks, more than a quarter of them children, and this is before any ground invasion. What practical help can the Government offer the 2 million people of Gaza, and the UK citizens such as my constituents who are trapped at the Rafah border and under constant threat from bombing and shelling?

Rishi Sunak Portrait The Prime Minister
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We continue to be in dialogue with partners, notably with the Egyptians about the Rafah crossing, and in anticipation we have deployed a Border Force team to Egypt to bring people safely home if and when that crossing is opened. In the meantime, the FCDO is providing consular assistance to all those families who are in contact with it and are currently in Gaza.