Asked by: Rachael Maskell (Labour (Co-op) - York Central)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has held recent discussions with his UN counterparts on the potential merits of issuing a new resolution on the war in Israel and Palestine.
Answered by David Rutley - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
Since the Hamas terrorist attacks on 7 October, the Prime Minister and Foreign Secretary have spoken with counterparts from almost 20 countries as part of extensive diplomatic efforts to sustain the prospect of peace and stability in the Middle East. On 19 October, the Foreign Secretary travelled to the region where he met leaders in Egypt, Turkey and Qatar to help prevent the conflict spreading across the region and to seek a peaceful resolution. The Foreign Secretary has discussed the conflict with the UN Secretary General. The UK Government is actively monitoring the conflict in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories, and we maintain regular dialogue with international counterparts. We will continue to use all the tools of British diplomacy to sustain the prospects of peace and stability in the region.
Found: 2023 Israel-Hamas conflict: UK and international response
Jan. 22 2024
Source Page: First Minister meetings and engagements: FOI releaseFound: • The hostages taken by Hamas must be released immediately and unconditionally.
Mentions:
1: Kim Johnson (Lab - Liverpool, Riverside) I thank the Secretary of State for that answer, but since the horrendous Hamas attacks on 7 October, - Speech Link
2: Neil O'Brien (Con - Harborough) As Israel works to root out Hamas terrorists, will my right hon. - Speech Link
3: Grant Shapps (Con - Welwyn Hatfield) , and therefore the solution is to deal with Hamas themselves. - Speech Link
4: John Healey (Lab - Wentworth and Dearne) Labour totally condemns Hamas terrorism. - Speech Link
5: Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi (Lab - Slough) Can the Secretary of State explain why, within two weeks of the earthquake in Turkey and Syria, nearly - Speech Link
Asked by: Stephen Morgan (Labour - Portsmouth South)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he is taking to (a) provide funding and (b) other support to (i) the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees, (ii) other UN agencies, (iii) Medical Aid for Palestinians and (iv) other UK-based organisations in responding to the situation in Gaza.
Answered by David Rutley - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK is calling for immediate unimpeded humanitarian access to Gaza so that essential aid can reach civilian populations including food, water, fuel and medical supplies. The UK is also calling on all parties to protect border crossings to support safe humanitarian access and mitigate harm to civilians. The FCDO is actively engaging with the international humanitarian system (including Intergovernmental Organizations (IGOs), Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs), UN agencies, Civil Society Organisations) to address the current humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
On 19 October, the Foreign Secretary was in the region where he met leaders in Egypt, Turkey and Qatar and pushed for agreement on humanitarian access to Gaza, the release of British hostages and foreign nationals, and securing safe passage for British Nationals to leave Gaza. The UK will remain committed to mitigating the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Gaza and calling for international humanitarian law to be respected, while standing alongside the people of Israel against the terrorist group Hamas.
Mentions:
1: Earl of Minto (Con - Excepted Hereditary) We warmly welcome the steps that Turkey has taken to bring Sweden’s accession closer, as well as continuing - Speech Link
2: Lord Sharkey (LD - Life peer) The north’s economy depends very largely on subventions from Turkey. - Speech Link
3: Lord Marlesford (Con - Life peer) been universal opposition to the Ukraine invasion; and they have succeeded, partly with the help of Turkey - Speech Link
4: Lord Winston (Lab - Life peer) From Morocco, he had to move to Turkey, Adrianople—Edirne, really—and then Salonika. - Speech Link
Mentions:
1: Jack Lopresti (Con - Filton and Bradley Stoke) Its vital oil pipeline to Turkey remains closed after nearly a year, with the loss of billions. - Speech Link
2: Jim Shannon (DUP - Strangford) That is my plea on behalf of those people.The Israeli-Hamas war has begun to spill over into the Kurdistan - Speech Link
3: Wayne David (Lab - Caerphilly) Oil exports from Iraqi Kurdistan to Turkey have been paused since late March 2023, and arbitration on - Speech Link
4: Leo Docherty (Con - Aldershot) Member for Caerphilly (Wayne David) raised—and in particular exports through the Iraq-Turkey pipeline - Speech Link
Written Evidence Dec. 18 2023
Inquiry: The UK’s engagement with the Middle East and North AfricaFound: broke down following the signing of a (short lived) national unity agreement between Fatah and Hamas
Asked by: Rachael Maskell (Labour (Co-op) - York Central)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he plans to take steps to to provide aid to Egypt to support refugees leaving Gaza.
Answered by David Rutley - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
Since the Hamas terrorist attacks on 7 October, the Prime Minister and Foreign Secretary have spoken with counterparts from almost 20 countries as part of extensive diplomatic efforts to sustain the prospect of peace and stability in the Middle East. On 19 October, the Foreign Secretary travelled to the region where he met leaders in Egypt, Turkey and Qatar to help prevent the conflict spreading across the region and to seek a peaceful resolution.
The UK remains committed to the safety and security of those in Gaza. We are in regular contact with the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) on the full range of issues relating to conflict in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPTs). The FCDO is actively engaging with the international humanitarian system (including Intergovernmental Organizations (IGOs), Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs), UN agencies and Civil Society Organisations) to address the current humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
On the 16 October, the Prime Minister announced £10 million in humanitarian funding for civilians in the OPTs and on 23 October a further £20 million in response to the escalating conflict. This funding will allow trusted partners, including key UN agencies, to provide essential relief items and services. These could include food, water and emergency shelter, depending on the needs on the ground. We regularly discuss migration and treatment of refugees with partners, including through our embassies, and we remain committed to supporting them to manage this effectively.
Asked by: Rachael Maskell (Labour (Co-op) - York Central)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he is taking steps with (a) international partners and (b) NGOs to establish refugee camps.
Answered by David Rutley - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
Since the Hamas terrorist attacks on 7 October, the Prime Minister and Foreign Secretary have spoken with counterparts from almost 20 countries as part of extensive diplomatic efforts to sustain the prospect of peace and stability in the Middle East. On 19 October, the Foreign Secretary travelled to the region where he met leaders in Egypt, Turkey and Qatar to help prevent the conflict spreading across the region and to seek a peaceful resolution.
The UK remains committed to the safety and security of those in Gaza. We are in regular contact with the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) on the full range of issues relating to conflict in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPTs). The FCDO is actively engaging with the international humanitarian system (including Intergovernmental Organizations (IGOs), Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs), UN agencies and Civil Society Organisations) to address the current humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
On the 16 October, the Prime Minister announced £10 million in humanitarian funding for civilians in the OPTs and on 23 October a further £20 million in response to the escalating conflict. This funding will allow trusted partners, including key UN agencies, to provide essential relief items and services. These could include food, water and emergency shelter, depending on the needs on the ground. We regularly discuss migration and treatment of refugees with partners, including through our embassies, and we remain committed to supporting them to manage this effectively.