Thank you for contacting me about the situation in Gaza.
A tragedy has been unfolding in the Middle East. Israel has suffered the worst terror attack in its history at the hands of Hamas. Palestinian civilians are facing a devastating and growing humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
I am deeply concerned about the prospect of a military offensive in Rafah, as is the UK Foreign Secretary. Over half of Gaza's population are sheltering in the area. The UK Government is calling for an immediate pause to get aid in and hostages out, then progress towards a sustainable, permanent ceasefire, without a return to destruction, fighting and loss of life.
These are several vital steps that we need to see, including the release of all hostages; the formation of a new Palestinian Government for the West Bank and Gaza, accompanied by an international support package; removing Hamas’ capacity to launch attacks against Israel; Hamas no longer being in charge of Gaza; and a political horizon which provides a credible and irreversible pathway towards a two-state solution. The international community will also need to make a massive effort to deliver a reconstruction plan for Gaza.
There must be a reduction in civilian casualties and all parties must act within international humanitarian law. I agree with the Government that we want to see Israel take greater care to limit its operations to military targets and avoid harming civilians and destroying homes.
There is a desperate need for increased humanitarian support to Gaza and the focus must be on practical solutions that save lives. The UK has trebled its aid commitment this financial year and is doing everything it can to get more aid in and open more crossings.
Israel must take steps, working with other partners including the UN and Egypt, to significantly increase the flow of aid into Gaza including allowing prolonged humanitarian pauses, opening more routes into Gaza and restoring and sustaining water, fuel and electricity.
The Foreign Secretary discussed the urgency of getting significantly more aid into Gaza to alleviate the desperate situation there with Prime Minister Netanyahu on 24 January. He 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. The UK is also working to try and establish a new aid route through the Port of Ashdod.
The Foreign Secretary has appointed a Representative for Humanitarian Affairs in the Occupied Palestinian Territories too, who is working intensively to address the blockages preventing more aid reaching Gaza.
The Government is funding multiple implementing partners including other UN agencies and international and UK NGOs. This support is helping people in Gaza get food, water, shelter and medicines.
The UK is providing £60 million in humanitarian assistance to support partners including the British Red Cross, UNICEF, the UN World Food Programme and Egyptian Red Crescent Society to respond to critical food, fuel, water, health, shelter and security needs in Gaza.
Indeed, the UK will continue to support the UN 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.
I will continue to follow developments closely. Thank you again for taking the time to contact me.
Kind regards,
Graham