Oral Answers to Questions

Sarah Owen Excerpts

Tuesday 24th October 2023 Commons Chamber

[Kate Hollern (Blackburn) (Lab)]

19. What diplomatic steps he is taking to help ensure access to Gaza by humanitarian organisations.

[Sarah Owen (Luton North) (Lab)]

21. What diplomatic steps he is taking to help ensure access to Gaza by humanitarian organisations.

[The Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (Mr Andrew Mitchell)]

I talk to Martin Griffiths, the head of the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, almost every day, and on Friday I attended a meeting with development Ministers convened by Samantha Power, the head of the United States Agency for International Development.

--- Later in debate ---

[Mr Mitchell]

On delivering aid and support, I had the opportunity to meet a very large number of the British charities and non-governmental organisations that are trying to help in Gaza, and I keep in very close touch with them. On the issue of access and support through these trusted agencies, we will do everything that we can to help.

[Sarah Owen]

Thousands of innocent people have been killed, and aid workers are included in that devastating loss. UN experts on the ground have given repeated warnings that the current Israeli military strategy could lead to the permanent ethnic cleansing of Palestinians. Yesterday, the Prime Minister said at the Dispatch Box that there were mechanisms to deal with breaches of international law. Can the Minister tell us more on what the Government are doing to support independent investigations and the International Criminal Court?

[Mr Mitchell]

The answer to the hon. Lady’s perfectly proper question is that international and legal organisations all around the world will be looking at this and giving their opinions.