Gaza: Humanitarian Obligations Debate
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Lee Dillon
Main Page: Lee Dillon (Liberal Democrat - Newbury)Department Debates - View all Lee Dillon's debates with the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
(1 day, 7 hours ago)
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Irene Campbell
I thank my hon. Friend for highlighting those important facts, and I agree with the points she raises.
I was contacted by a constituent on Friday who said:
“We are still not seeing enough food, medicine, tents or machinery required to clear roads, excavate bombed buildings to recover the dead, restore water and electricity and sewage treatment facilities being allowed through the Israeli blockade. I implore you to use all the influence you have to pressure the Prime Minister to at the very least publicly call out the atrocities that continue in Gaza.”
I receive many emails with that sentiment.
Since 7 October 2023, approximately 2,000 Israelis have been killed, including civilians and Israel Defence Forces soldiers, and more than 20,000 IDF soldiers have been injured. The Palestinian figures are as follows: almost 70,000 Palestinians have been killed in the Gaza strip, and more than 170,000 have been injured. A UN impact report found that nearly 53% of those fatalities have been women, children and elderly people.
Mr Lee Dillon (Newbury) (LD)
The hon. Lady touches on the burden that women and children are facing. Does she agree that, with 123,000 pregnant women across the west bank and Gaza living with severe malnutrition, inadequate medical care and soaring risks to themselves and their babies, it is incumbent on the Government to provide as much aid as possible so that those 123,000 pregnant women are supported?
Irene Campbell
I thank the hon. Member for raising that important issue, and I fully agree with him.
It is important to remember that this situation is fast moving and can change from day to day. The humanitarian aid reaching Gaza has been intermittent and has started and stopped repeatedly. It is vital to note that, since the ceasefire, only a fraction of the promised aid has actually reached Gaza.