My statement on the situation in Gaza
April 7 marked six months since the atrocities of October 7 and the humanitarian crisis that has since unfolded in Gaza.
The Prime Minister has said the situation in Gaza is becoming increasingly intolerable and, while the UK continues to support Israel’s right to defeat the threat from Hamas terrorists, it has been made clear to the Israeli government that more must be done to alleviate the suffering of innocent civilians in Gaza. Recognising that need for increase humanitarian support, I welcome the recent increase of aid into Gaza and the UK Government’s unabated efforts to help achieve this and to ensure that it continues.
I have noted concerns about arms export licences, particularly in light of the tragic killing of the aid workers in Gaza. Following a review of the most recent legal advice, the Foreign Secretary has confirmed that no changes will be made to the UK’s policy at this time. He has also made it clear that legal advice is not published or commented on by government but must be acted on in a way that is consistent with it.
It is worth noting that the UK’s export control is long-established and one of the most robust regimes in the world. All export licence applications are rigorously assessed on a case-by-case basis against the Strategic Export Licensing Criteria, based on the most up-to-date information and analysis available.
The UK Government’s position, which I support, calls for an immediate humanitarian pause so that we can get the remaining hostages out and allow for more aid to enter the region, using that as a platform on which to build towards a sustainable ceasefire.
Campaign Responses
I am continuing to receive an exceptionally high volume of emails espousing a multiplicity of concerns and viewpoints under the vast umbrella of this issue. Many of these reach me through various campaigning groups. If you have contacted me in this way, please find responses to the most raised concerns below.
Hospitals in Gaza
The Foreign Secretary and Prime Minister have underlined the need for Israel to ensure effective deconfliction in Gaza, and to take all possible measures to ensure the safety of medical personnel and facilities.
A field hospital, provided by UK Aid funding to UK-Med, has also arrived in Gaza. This facility, staffed by UK and local medics, will be able to treat over 100 patients a day, ensuring those with health issues have access to vital aid.
The UK continues to call for IHL to be respected and civilians to be protected.
Al-Shifa Hospital
I understand your concern about the situation at the al-Shifa hospital in Gaza.
I want to make it clear that the UK Government recognises that Israel has the right to self-defence, but must adhere to international humanitarian law and take every possible measure to minimize harm to civilians. This includes respecting the sanctity of hospitals.
The suffering being experienced at the al-Shifa hospital is difficult to comprehend; it is tragic that innocent people, including young children and babies, have lost their lives there as a result of the lack of electricity. The acute situation at al-Shifa further highlights the urgent need to get more aid into Gaza and I welcome all that the UK is doing to this end.
I will, however, note that it is clear that Hamas has put Palestinians at grave risk by embedding themselves in the civilian population and using civilians as human shields.
Children in Gaza
I too am deeply concerned by the suffering faced by children in Gaza.
All parties to this conflict must ensure that their actions are proportionate and necessary, affording innocent civilians the protection that is their right under international law. Civilians, including children, must be respected and protected and our collective priority must be to alleviate this suffering, including at hospitals and schools.
The UK continues to make representations to the Israeli authorities on the troubling high number of Palestinian children who are not informed of their legal rights when detained, in contravention of Israel's own regulations. The UK welcomes the release of Palestinian detainees as part of the hostage deal brokered on 22 November 2023, a crucial step towards providing relief to the families of the hostages and addressing the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
Hospitals in the Occupied Palestinian Territories must be allowed to operate safely and treat the vulnerable, in accordance with international humanitarian law.
As mentioned, the UK has trebled its aid commitment in the financial year 2023/24 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.
Famine in Gaza
I very much understand and share your concerns about the food security situation in Gaza, and the growing risk of famine as this devastating humanitarian crisis continues to worsen.
As you know, the UK and partners are stepping up efforts to aid in as quickly as possible by land, sea and air.
Ministers have also been clear that Israel must take action to allow more aid into Gaza, including scaling up the Jordan corridor, opening a crossing in northern Gaza (Karni, Erez or a new crossing point), fully opening Ashdod Port for aid delivery, and increasing screening capacity at Kerem Shalom and Nitzana to seven days a week and extended hours.
I want to assure you that the UK is doing all it can to get as much food into Gaza as possible. Ministers recently announced that more than 2,000 tonnes of UK-funded food aid are being distributed by the World Food Programme on the ground. This is the UK's largest delivery of aid to Gaza in this crisis. This follows 750 tonnes of UK funded food aid arriving in Gaza in December, delivered through the World Food Programme, followed by a second delivery of 315 tonnes in January. Last month the UK and Jordan also air-dropped life-saving food and medicines directly to the Tal Al-Hawa hospital in northern Gaza.
South Africa and the ICJ
I note your concerns relating to South Africa’s case at the International Court of Justice (ICJ). The UK respects the role and independence of the ICJ, but I share ministers' concerns about this case, which I do not believe to be helpful in the goal of achieving a sustainable ceasefire.
Israel has the right to defend itself against Hamas in line with IHL, as the UK has made clear from the outset. I share the Government's view that Israel's actions in Gaza cannot be described as a genocide, but of course the formal determination of genocide should be based upon the final judgment of a competent court.
I welcome the court’s call for the immediate release of hostages and the need to get more aid into Gaza, which is a position the UK has long advocated for.
UNRWA Funding
I am appalled by allegations that any agency staff were involved in the 7 October attack against Israel, a heinous act of terrorism. I believe that it was only right for the UK to pause future funding of UNRWA, in line with the United States, Germany, Australia, Italy, Canada, Finland, Switzerland and the Netherlands.
I understand that the UN Office of Internal Oversight Services and Catherine Colonna have now provided their interim reports to the UN Secretary-General.
The UK wants UNRWA to give detailed undertakings about changes in personnel, policy and precedents to ensure this can never happen again. I am assured that the UK is also working with allies to try and bring this situation to a rapid conclusion, not least because UNRWA have a vital role to play in providing aid and services in Gaza. Indeed, UNRWA is the only body with a distribution network, and ministers know there needs to be a dose of realism about what we can achieve and how quickly we can achieve it.
The decision to pause future funding to UNRWA has no impact on the UK's contribution to the humanitarian response: the UK remains wholly committed to getting humanitarian aid to the people in Gaza who desperately need it. The Government is getting on with aid delivery, funding multiple implementing partners including other UN agencies and international and UK NGOs, and is doing everything it can to get more aid in by land, sea and air .
The Foreign Secretary recently announced a further £10 million in aid spending for the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPTs), bringing UK support to more than £100 million in the financial year 2023/24. The UK has trebled its aid commitment to the OPTs, and funding has supported partners including the British Red Cross, UNICEF, the UN World Food Programme and Egyptian Red Crescent Society to deliver vital supplies.
I wholeheartedly welcome that more than 2,000 tonnes of food aid – the UK’s largest delivery of aid to Gaza thus far – crossed the border on 20 March, and is being distributed by the WFP on the ground. This adds to the 150 tonnes of UK-funded relief items including blankets and tents, which arrived on 13 March, and will be distributed by UNICEF. A full UK field hospital run by UK-Med has also arrived in Gaza and is now operational and providing life-saving care. Ministers are continuing to do all that they can to get more aid in and open more crossings.
For those who have requested for me to sign Early Day Motions (EDMs) please note that Parliamentary Private Secretaries do not, by convention, sign EDMs, as doing so is likely to breach the Ministerial Code’s rules on collective responsibility. As PPS to the Ministry of Justice, I will be following this convention.
