Asked by: Kanishka Narayan (Labour - Vale of Glamorgan)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of Israel’s decision to restrict access into Gaza on humanitarian outcomes in that area.
Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
We are deeply concerned at the announcement that Israel has halted all humanitarian aid from entering Gaza. As per the UK Government's statement on 5 March, with France and Germany, the entry of lifesaving aid should never be contingent on a ceasefire or used as a political tool. A halt on goods and supplies entering Gaza, such as that announced by the Government of Israel would risk violating International Humanitarian Law. It is vital that the ceasefire is sustained, all the hostages are released, and continued flows of humanitarian aid to Gaza are ensured.