Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he is taking to help ensure the necessary conditions for (a) safe and (b) effective humanitarian operations by UNRWA in Gaza.

The Prime Minister and Foreign Secretary have expressed serious concern at the UNRWA bills passed by Israel's Knesset. This legislation risks making UNRWA's essential work for Palestinians impossible, jeopardising the entire international humanitarian response in Gaza and delivery of essential health and education services in the West Bank. During her recent visit to the region, the Minister of State for Development urged Israel's deputy Foreign Minister Haskel to ensure that UNRWA can continue its vital operations. I raised this issue with Minister Haskel on 05 December and met with Mr Philippe Lazzarini, the UN's Commissioner-General of UNWRA in Doha on 08 December. We continue to work with our international partners to press Israel also to take the necessary steps to ensure safe and effective humanitarian delivery in Gaza, including through the Foreign Secretary's recent joint letter, with French and German counterparts, to Israeli Foreign Minister Sa'ar. The Development Minister underlined the UK's support for UNRWA by announcing, on 2 December, £7 million of UK assistance to UNRWA's Flash Humanitarian Appeal for Gaza.