Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent assessment he has made of the role of Qatar in mediating between the parties to the conflict in the Middle East.

Qatar has played a vital role in negotiating a ceasefire deal to secure the release of all those being held hostage by Hamas and bring the conflict in Gaza to an end. We thank Qatar, Egypt, the US and all international partners for their coordinating efforts. Securing an immediate ceasefire and the release of hostages remains the UK's top priority and will pave the way for wider de-escalation, bringing greater stability to the Middle East. The Foreign Secretary has been urging the parties to return to the negotiating table to engage in meaningful dialogue and show the flexibility needed to reach an agreement. Negotiations remain the best chance to get hostages home to their loved ones.