Humanitarian Situation in Gaza 2024-03-12

2024-03-12

TAGS
Response quality

Questions & Answers

Q1 Partial Answer
Alex Sobel Lab Co-op
Leeds Central and Headingley
Context
The UK has suspended UNRWA funding. Gaza faces severe humanitarian crisis.
If he will resume funding of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East. The UK Government have halted financial support to UNRWA, despite a growing humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza.
We are doing all we can to increase aid into Gaza. With our allies, we will take decisions on the future of UNRWA funding after scrutinising Catherine Colonna's interim report on UNRWA neutrality.
Assessment & feedback
Provided no specific timeline or commitment for resuming funding
With Our Allies, We Will Take Decisions
Response accuracy
Q2 Partial Answer
Context
Reports of Palestinian medical staff and patients being detained and tortured by Israeli troops.
Do the UK Government believe that the Israeli Government are responsible for the conduct of their forces, which appears to be torture and breaches international law? What will the UK Government do about this?
The hon. Lady is right to say that Israel must comply with the Geneva convention. We have seen these reports. A full explanation and investigation is required, and that is what the British Government are pressing for.
Assessment & feedback
No specific actions were committed beyond pressuring for an investigation
Pressing For A Full Explanation
Response accuracy
Q3 Partial Answer
Context
Children are being killed and starved, while Israel is accused of failing to comply with the International Court of Justice ruling on humanitarian aid.
Does the Minister agree that the Israeli Government should be told by the UK and our allies to unlock aid and end killing, or face real consequences?
As the hon. Gentleman knows, the Prime Minister and Foreign Secretary have pressed Netanyahu and Herzog for more aid access. We aim to achieve a pause to get hostages out and more aid in.
Assessment & feedback
No specific consequences were committed
Pressing For More Aid Access
Response accuracy
Q4 Partial Answer
Alex Sobel Lab Co-op
Leeds Central and Headingley
Context
US, Canada, Sweden have resumed UNRWA funding despite lack of evidence of wrongdoing by Israel. The British public are concerned about starvation in Gaza.
When will the Minister resume funding given interim reports and no evidence of wrongdoing by Israeli?
No British funding is due until April. We await OIOS and Catherine Colonna's reports to ensure adequate supplies are available.
Assessment & feedback
Did not provide a specific timeline for resuming funding beyond April
Awaiting Reports For Reassurance
Response accuracy
Q5 Partial Answer
Alicia Kearns Con
Rutland and Stamford
Context
Foreign Affairs Committee visited al-Arish, the aid staging point for Gaza. Israel has a legal obligation to ensure aid reaches civilians.
In legal terms, is Israel demonstrating a commitment to international humanitarian law? If not told in House, will he write?
We review Israel's compliance regularly. As of today, we believe they have the capacity and ability to abide by international humanitarian law.
Assessment & feedback
No specific legal analysis provided beyond general statements
Reviewing Compliance Regularly
Response accuracy
Q6 Partial Answer
Context
UN mission team concluded there are reasonable grounds for conflict-related sexual violence during October attacks.
In light of the UN mission's findings, will the Government redouble efforts to get hostages home?
Agree with my right hon. Friend. We are doing everything possible to increase aid flow and secure hostages' return.
Assessment & feedback
No specific new actions committed beyond existing efforts
Doing Everything Possible
Response accuracy
Q7 Partial Answer
Context
Reports indicate that civilians in Gaza followed Hamas terrorists into Israel and participated in violent acts, including sexual violence.
One of the most troubling aspects of the 7 October massacre was the fact that many ordinary Gazans—reports indicate hundreds, or even thousands—followed the Hamas terrorists into Israel and participated in atrocities. Reports suggest that civilians kidnapped Israelis and sold them to Gaza-based terrorist groups, and committed further unspeakable acts of violence, including sexual violence. Is my right hon. Friend aware of those reports, and does he share my concerns about Hamas's ongoing indoctrination of ordinary Gazan citizens?
My hon. Friend makes a good point. I am aware of those reports. The fact remains that the appalling events of 7 October were, as I have said in the House before, the worst atrocity and the worst killing of Jewish people since the holocaust and the second world war.
Assessment & feedback
The answer does not address whether the Minister shares concerns about Hamas's indoctrination of Gazan citizens.
Response accuracy
Q8 Partial Answer
Alistair Carmichael Lib Dem
Orkney and Shetland
Context
Canada and Sweden have resumed their funding to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA).
Accepting what the Minister says about there being no money due to go to UNRWA until April, can I say to him, however, that for us to continue not to fund UNRWA sends a truly dreadful signal to other countries on the world stage? Canada and Sweden have resumed their funding. Surely we should be attending to this now as a matter of some urgency?
I listed the countries that take the same view as us. The right hon. Gentleman is right that there is a division, but Britain is not due to provide any funding until we reach the next financial year in April. We will, of course, seek to do everything we can to resolve the matter by the time that funding is due.
Assessment & feedback
The answer avoids committing to resuming funding before April.
Response accuracy
Q9 Partial Answer
Context
Israel is co-operating with an increasing number of lorries entering Gaza carrying essential humanitarian aid.
Can the deputy Foreign Secretary confirm that Israel is co-operating with an increasing number of lorries entering Gaza carrying essential humanitarian aid? I have been looking up the figures: 16,405 aid lorries, 203,300 tonnes of food and 26,160 tonnes of water. Is it not correct that the Israelis have said there is no limit on the amount of aid that can come in, but that there is a delay once it has passed Israeli checks and before it gets into Gaza proper?
My right hon. and learned Friend is right to say that there has been an increase in the number of trucks getting in. In February there were, on average, only 97. In March that figure is 162. So there has been an improvement, but the House will recognise that there is nothing like enough getting through.
Assessment & feedback
The answer does not provide a specific confirmation of increased co-operation from Israel.
Response accuracy
Q10 Partial Answer
Lisa Nandy Lab
Wigan
Context
The BBC reported that medics in Gaza were detained, stripped and beaten while trying to perform life-saving humanitarian duties.
May I return the Minister to the serious allegations made today, following a BBC investigation, that medics in Gaza were detained, stripped and beaten while trying to perform their life-saving humanitarian duties? All of us in the House have repeatedly called on all parties to abide by international law, but the Government have so far declined to say that the provisional measures of the International Court of Justice should be implemented in full. Will he now tell us that they should be, and that the UK will support the International Criminal Court investigation, led by Andrew Cayley, to ensure not only that all allegations against all parties are investigated, but that there is accountability for those who break the law?
The hon. Lady is quite right: there needs to be a full and thorough investigation and accountability in respect of what was reported today by the BBC, and I can assure her that the Foreign Office is pressing for full transparency and accountability on that matter.
Assessment & feedback
The answer does not commit to supporting the ICJ's provisional measures or full ICC investigation.
Response accuracy
Q11 Partial Answer
Lisa Nandy Lab
Wigan
Context
The UK has declined to say that the provisional measures of the International Court of Justice should be implemented in full.
But surely the Minister can see the problem. Unless the ICJ's provisional ruling is implemented and the ICC is allowed to go about its work, those words are simply meaningless; and unless the international community makes it crystal clear that rules will be upheld by all parties and those who do not uphold them will be held accountable, more people will die. Peace is built on the bedrock of international law. May I ask the Minister again to make it clear to the House that the Government will support the ICC's investigation of Hamas as well as its investigation of Israel and will press for the full implementation of the ICJ's provisional ruling, and that international law will be upheld not when it is convenient but always, as the precondition for peace?
Let me be very clear about this: we did not believe, and do not believe, that the ICJ referral is helpful to attempts to secure dialogue. We respect the role and independence of the ICJ and will consider any advisory opinion, but we did not think it helpful, without the consent of both parties, for the Court to deliver an advisory opinion on what is essentially a bilateral dispute.
Assessment & feedback
The answer does not commit to supporting the ICC's investigation including both Hamas and Israel.
Response accuracy
Q12 Partial Answer
Brendan O'Hara SNP
Argyll, Bute and South Lochaber
Context
The UK sells weapons to Israel while simultaneously providing humanitarian aid to Gaza.
The Minister will have seen the shocking images of parachutes dropping aid into Gaza at the same moment as a barrage of Israeli missiles struck. There is, of course, every chance that the aid and the missiles originated from the same source, and I wonder at the level of cognitive dissonance required to supply aid to innocent civilians while at the same time providing the means by which Israel can continue to kill them indiscriminately. When will this Government recognise the moral absurdity of selling weapons to Israel while attempting to salve their conscience by airdropping aid to those civilians who are fortunate enough to have survived the bombardment?
As I think I have mentioned to the hon. Gentleman before, in this country we have the toughest arms control mechanisms anywhere, but we accept that Israel has a right of self-defence, and this has to be seen through that prism as well as the prism through which he sees it.
Assessment & feedback
The answer does not address the inconsistency between selling arms and providing aid.
Response accuracy