Question to the Department for International Development:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what representations they have made to the government of Israel regarding the need for tunnels to be used in the Gaza area to provide food and medicine to the people of Gaza.

The UK believes any imported food and medicine should be provided through established Gaza crossing points. We remain deeply concerned by attempts to rearm and rebuild militant infrastructure, including the tunnel network in Gaza. This activity undermines efforts to improve the situation in Gaza and harms the prospects for peace and stability in the Middle East. We have a regular dialogue with the Israeli Government about its security concerns in Gaza. We also consistently call on the Israeli Government to ease movement and access restrictions covering the import of goods. Additionally, we have encouraged the Palestinian Authority to ensure their policy in Gaza, which has included restrictions on the shipment of medical supplies, does not unnecessarily affect the civilian population. The UK is a long-term supporter of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees (UNRWA), which provides basic services to 1.3 million people in Gaza, including basic health care.