Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of (a) the implications for his policies of the escalations in violence in the Occupied Palestinian Territories and Israel, (b) humanitarian needs and access in the Occupied Palestinian Territories of the Gaza Strip and the West Bank and (c) the implications for UK ODA contributions to the Occupied Palestinian Territories.

The ongoing violence across Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories must stop. The UK is urging the parties to work with mediators towards an immediate ceasefire, to prevent further humanitarian impact. We are supporting the continued UN, Egyptian and Qatari efforts to that end, as well as working closely with the US.

The UK is deeply concerned about the ongoing humanitarian situation in Gaza, including damage and destruction of civilian infrastructure. We remain in close contact with UN agencies and key partners on the ground and will monitor the situation closely.