Gaza Humanitarian Situation 2025-01-14
2025-01-14
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Response quality
Questions & Answers
Q1
Direct Answer
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Context
The aid agencies Danny Beales has spoken to are concerned about access to medical facilities and critical shortages of medical supplies, particularly in northern Gaza. He mentions the dire humanitarian situation for both Palestinians and Israeli hostages.
Aid agencies I have spoken to are concerned about access to medical facilities and critical shortages of medical supplies in Gaza, particularly in northern Gaza. Given this situation, what steps is the Government taking to get additional medical supplies into Gaza?
I am grateful to my hon. Friend for raising this incredibly important issue. In December, I saw for myself in Jordan how medical aid had been blocked from entering Gaza. As I have said before, the position that the UK Government have articulated at every possible juncture is that restrictions on lifesaving aid must end. The UK continues to provide core healthcare relief items, and has provided 76,000 wound care kits, 1.3 million items of medicine, and critical funding for UK-Med to run its field hospitals in Gaza.
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Response accuracy
Q2
Direct Answer
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The Kamal Adwan hospital in Gaza was raided, leading to the detention of Dr Safiya along with several staff members. International law prohibits the detention of medical personnel during conflict.
I thank the Minister for her response, and I welcome the Foreign Secretary’s efforts to secure a sustainable ceasefire and the release of hostages. Many constituents are concerned about the recent raid on Kamal Adwan hospital which was one of the last healthcare facilities still operating in Gaza. The director, Dr Safiya, along with his staff, were detained during that raid. International law prohibits this. What steps is the Minister taking to secure their release?
My hon. Friend is right to raise this critically important issue. We have raised the protection of healthcare facilities and the detention of healthcare workers directly with the Israeli Government. The Minister for the middle east, my hon. Friend the Member for Lincoln (Mr Falconer), has specifically raised the detention of Dr Hussam Abu Safiya with both Israel’s deputy Foreign Minister and its ambassador to the UK.
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Q3
Direct Answer
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Context
A ceasefire was drafted but not implemented, leaving hostages imprisoned and lives lost. The new proposed ceasefire must address the issues of medical supplies and military activity.
The ceasefire that is apparently being progressed is seemingly the same as the one drafted in May, which was deliberately frustrated by members of the Israeli Government. Sadly since then hostages and those falsely imprisoned have remained captive while many lives were lost. No doubt the Minister can assure the public that if this new ceasefire is confirmed every effort will be made to get aid into Gaza, especially northern Gaza where needs are dire. Does she agree that this means neither Israeli military activity nor legislation preventing UNRWA work can be accepted?
There absolutely must be a surge of aid into Gaza; that will be critical after a ceasefire. However, impediments to aid that remain must also be removed. The issue of UNRWA has been previously discussed in the House. The UK Government’s position is that UNRWA must be able to continue to operate. It is the only organisation with the scale and depth necessary to get lifesaving aid to people who need it.
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