Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to the Oral Statement from the Minister for Development of 28 January 2025 on Gaza: Humanitarian Situation, Official Report, Column 185, what recent assessment he has made of the adequacy of supply of (a) tents, (b) mattresses and (c) medical equipment in Gaza; and what diplomatic steps he is taking to increase that supply.

Despite the welcome ceasefire, the humanitarian situation in Gaza remains extremely challenging.  The UK is pressing Israel to increase the volume and type of goods, like shelter items and medical equipment, entering Gaza. The Foreign Secretary raised this with Israeli Foreign Minister Sa'ar in a call on 22 January. On 31 January, we joined with Germany and France to call on Israel to abide by its international obligations and live up to its responsibility to ensure full, rapid, safe, and unhindered humanitarian assistance and the provision of basic services to the civilian population. The Minister for Development also announced £17 million in humanitarian funding on 28 January to ensure healthcare, food and shelter reaches tens of thousands of civilians, and to rebuild vital infrastructure across the Occupied Palestinian Territories.