Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the humanitarian situation in Gaza; and what action they are taking with international partners to prevent crisis levels of hunger and famine amongst the civilian population of Gaza.

There is a humanitarian crisis in Gaza and a desperate need for increased humanitarian support - 9 out of 10 Palestinians in Gaza are living on less than one meal a day. Our focus must be on practical solutions that save lives.

The Prime Minister discussed the crisis in Israel and Gaza with President Biden on 22 January. The UK and US are focused on alleviating the terrible suffering in Gaza and together we are working to establish a new aid route through the port of Ashdod. The Foreign Secretary has reiterated the need for Israel to open more crossing points into Gaza, for Nitzana and Kerem Shalom to be open for longer, and for Israel to support the UN to distribute aid effectively across the whole of Gaza.

We trebled our aid commitment this financial year and we will continue to support the United Nations World Food Programme to deliver a new humanitarian land corridor from Jordan into Gaza. 750 tonnes of life-saving food aid arrived in the first delivery and 315 tonnes in the second delivery. Israel must concrete take steps, working with other partners including the UN and Egypt, to significantly increase the flow of aid across Gaza including allowing prolonged humanitarian pauses, opening more routes into Gaza and immediately restoring and sustaining water, fuel and electricity.