Opened the debate
It is a great privilege to have secured this Adjournment debate on Government support for the people in the Occupied Palestinian Territories. I, like most of the world, was horrified by Hamas’s attack on Israel and their killing and kidnapping of Israeli citizens. While supporting Israel's right to self-defence, I raise concerns about the humanitarian crisis in Palestine. My constituents write to me daily asking what more can be done to support Palestinians suffering from Israel's military operations and humanitarian blockade. They see children killed every day by modern warfare weapons and ask how they can help stop this suffering. Constituents also express distress over reported acts of sexual violence, destruction of reproductive health clinics, and other war crimes. I emphasise that while many constituents are Muslim or of Muslim heritage, many more come from various backgrounds including Christian communities. My objective is to demand what more we can do as a nation to address this humanitarian crisis.
Government Response
The Minister's response has not been provided in the given text snippet. The debate transcript ends with details of the humanitarian crisis but does not include a ministerial statement or closing remarks addressing the issues raised by the lead MP. Acknowledges the humanitarian crisis and highlights actions taken by the Government such as increasing funding to UNRWA, signing memorandums of understanding with Palestinian leaders, condemning settlements and settler violence in the occupied West Bank, undertaking comprehensive reviews of arms sales to Israel. The minister also confirms that diplomatic representatives are working closely together and outlines plans for addressing the International Court of Justice’s ruling on humanitarian access. Provides guidance on how constituents can support Palestinians through protests, charitable giving, distinguishing goods from illegal territories, and ways to provide aid without aiding Hamas. Acknowledges the debate and the suffering caused by recent attacks. Supports Palestinian self-determination including an independent state, as enshrined in a memorandum signed with Prime Minister Mustafa. Announces £101 million package to provide substantial funding for humanitarian response in Gaza and support Palestinian economic development and governance reforms. The UK’s previous financial year provided £129 million to the OPTs, benefiting healthcare, food supply, water sanitation services for over 430,000, almost 650,000, and close to 380,000 people respectively. I thank the hon. Member for mentioning education, because it is so crucial... We do not want children to go uneducated and then, perhaps through a sense of the well of suffering, recreate in the next generation less education and less understanding of the world... UK-Med has facilitated more than 405,000 consultations in Gaza since January 2024, so that patients can receive critical life and limb-saving surgery. We are also providing funding to the World Health Organisation Egypt to ensure vital medical supplies reach evacuated Gazans being treated there... For example, there is the delivery of the polio vaccination campaigns. My hon. Friend mentioned communicable diseases and the risk of further illness, but that polio vaccination campaign protected more than 600,000 vulnerable children across Gaza through funding to the global polio eradication initiative... We have repeatedly raised our concerns at the UN Security Council, including on the safety of aid workers... Israel has admitted that it was caused by one of its tanks, despite the compound being known to the IDF as a UN humanitarian facility. That is inexcusable, and we urge Israel to ensure that accurate public statements are made about such grave incidents. It must conduct full and transparent investigations of these incidents, hold those responsible to account, and reinstate an effective deconfliction system to prevent such terrible tragedies from reoccurring... Let me reassure Members on both sides of the House that we are committed to a two-state solution, and that commitment is unwavering... The UK Government’s position is that Israeli settlements in the west bank are illegal under international law, and harm prospects for a two-state solution. Settlements do not offer security to either Israel or Palestinians... The UK Government welcomed the announcement of an agreement last January to end the fighting in Gaza and release the 38 hostages, including the British national Emily Damari and the UK-linked Eli Sharabi. Securing an immediate ceasefire and the safe release of all hostages has been a priority for the Government since the start of the conflict... The Bibas family are going through intolerable anguish over Shiri and her young children Kfir and Ariel... Our support for the Palestinian Authority continues to provide essential services, and promotes reform and state building. Our support for the humanitarian response in Gaza provides food and medical assistance to those who most need it.