Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they will take in response to the publication of data by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs on the demolition of structures and displacement in Area C of the West Bank in 2019, including the finding that 507 persons have been displaced and 394 structures have been demolished.

​We are deeply concerned by the continued demolition of Palestinian property by the Israeli authorities. Demolitions and evictions of Palestinians from their homes cause unnecessary suffering to ordinary Palestinians; call into question Israel’s commitment to a viable two-state solution; and, in all but the most exceptional of cases, are contrary to International Humanitarian Law. We have repeatedly made clear to the Israeli authorities our serious concern at the increase in demolitions of Palestinian properties in Area C of the West Bank and in East Jerusalem, most recently on 17 December 2019. The UK and international partners will continue to call bilaterally, and in international fora, for Israel to abandon demolition plans entirely, and instead provide a transparent route to construction for Palestinians in Area C. The British Government supports Bedouin communities and Palestinians facing demolition or eviction in Area C of the West Bank through our legal aid programme, which helps residents challenge decisions in the Israeli legal system. The UK has also allocated £1.1 million to support essential infrastructure for vulnerable Palestinians in Area C.