Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to UNICEF's State of Palestine Nutrition Cluster Dashboard, updated 29 September 2024, whether he has had discussions with his Israeli counterpart on steps to increase access to (a) medical treatment and (b) food for children in Gaza.

The people of Gaza face a humanitarian catastrophe. The whole population faces the risk of famine. As set out in the Foreign Secretary's statement on 2 September, Israel could and must do more to ensure that humanitarian aid reaches civilians in Gaza. The Prime Minister reaffirmed the need for greater aid access in his statement to the UN General Assembly on 26 September. The Foreign Secretary also continues to press Israeli leaders to ensure aid can flow freely into and within Gaza.

Through our support for UK-Med, (including a further £5.5 million announced on 14 July) we are helping to run field hospitals in Gaza. We are also supporting other agencies such as United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund and World Food Programme to provide health and nutrition surveillance and interventions.