Asked by: Rosie Cooper (Labour - West Lancashire)
Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what discussions she has had with her Israeli counterpart on economic revitalisation in Gaza.
Answered by Alistair Burt
The Secretary of State for International Development has not recently held any discussions with her Israeli counterparts on economic revitalisation in Gaza. The UK remains gravely concerned about the humanitarian and economic situation in Gaza. In August 2017, Minister Burt met with Israeli officials to discuss various issues including the dire need to improve the humanitarian and economic situation in Gaza. We welcome all practical steps to improve conditions as a matter of urgency. HMG officials regularly discuss economic revitalisation in Gaza with their Israeli and Palestinian counterparts. For example, on 13 March, senior HMG officials attended a United States hosted conference on the humanitarian and economic situation in Gaza alongside representatives from 20 countries, including Israel.
Asked by: Rosie Cooper (Labour - West Lancashire)
Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what steps her Department is taking to encourage other Governments to honour the reconstruction pledges made at the 2014 Cairo Conference.
Answered by Alistair Burt
The UK has disbursed its £20 million pledge in early recovery assistance made at the 2014 Gaza Reconstruction Conference in Cairo, including support for cash assistance to Palestinian refugees, mine removal and medical treatment. We continue to encourage other donors and the international community to work towards reconstruction in Gaza.