Asked by: Gordon McKee (Labour - Glasgow South)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what diplomatic steps he is taking to support a ceasefire agreement in Gaza.
Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
We are clear that the first step to ending this terrible conflict is an immediate ceasefire, and we continue to push all parties to achieve this urgently. All parties must re-engage with negotiations to get the hostages out, surge aid, and secure a permanent end to this conflict. The Foreign Secretary has visited Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories three times since taking office and is working with partners on a framework for peace to turn a ceasefire into lasting security and peace for Palestinians and Israelis. The Foreign Secretary discussed the dire situation in Gaza with the Qatari Foreign Minister on 25 June, Israeli Foreign Minister Sa'ar on 23 August and Secretary of State Rubio on 2 September.