Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Occupied Palestinian Territories: Humanitarian Situation

Tuesday 2 March 2021 · 5 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 1 Partly answered 4 Not answered 0

Key points

  • The UK remains concerned about the humanitarian situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, particularly in Gaza, and is providing 4.5 million in humanitarian assistance.
  • The UK opposes forced evictions and demolitions in the Occupied Palestinian Territories and regularly raises these issues with Israeli counterparts.
  • The UK Government is currently prioritizing its funding for UNRWA and will publish the outcome of this exercise in due course.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Joanna Cherry SNP
Asylum & Refugees
Context

The humanitarian situation in Gaza is concerning due to ongoing conflicts and need for aid.

Question

What recent assessment has the Government made of the humanitarian situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territories?

Answer from James Cleverly

The UK remains concerned about the fragile humanitarian situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, particularly in Gaza. The UK is providing £4.5 million in humanitarian assistance to the OPTs, including £1 million to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency's emergency appeal and £2.5 million to the World Food Programme for cash assistance.

Answered
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Q2 Alan Brown SNP
Community Security Foreign Affairs
Context

Evictions and demolition orders continue despite international law prohibitions.

Question

The Minister rightly highlights forced evictions and demolitions breaking international law, but none the less, Israel continues with its evictions in Sheikh Jarrah and Batan al-Hawa. The proposed construction of 1,200 houses at Givat HaMatos is out to tender at the moment. Action is needed, not just words, so when will the UK Government implement trade bans on goods from illegal settlements?

Answer from James Cleverly

The UK's position on this issue is long standing and clear. We oppose the points that the hon. Gentleman has put forward. We raise the issue of demolitions regularly with our Israeli counterparts, and we will continue to do so at every opportunity.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific ask for a timeline or commitment on trade bans was not addressed.

How: We Oppose The Points That The Hon. Gentleman Has Put Forward.

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Q3 Andrew Slaughter Lab Hammersmith and Chiswick
Foreign Affairs
Context

There are concerns about potential cuts to UNRWA funding due to aid budget adjustments.

Question

The reduction in the international development aid budget implies a third of the current level of UNRWA funding could be lost, and there are rumours that the Government could cut twice that. Given the crucial role UNRWA plays for over 6 million Palestinian refugees, will the Minister guarantee at least the current level of funding?

Answer from James Cleverly

The UK Government regard UNWRA as an important partner in support of the people in the OPTs and surrounding areas. We are going through a prioritisation exercise at the moment, the outcome of which will be published in due course.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific ask for funding guarantees was not addressed directly.

How: We Are Going Through A Prioritisation Exercise At The Moment.

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Q4 Joanna Cherry SNP
Education Foreign Affairs
Context

There are ongoing threats of demolition orders for Palestinian schools.

Question

As schools around the world deal with the challenges of the covid pandemic, Palestinian schoolchildren face a further threat. According to the United Nations, 53 Palestinian schools in the occupied west bank are subject to Israeli Government demolition orders. Does the Minister agree that demolishing any school is wrong and that any such action should have consequences?

Answer from James Cleverly

The UK regularly raises the issue of demolitions and our position on this is clear. We will continue to do so, and we will continue to highlight the importance of education, which remains one of the Government's priorities.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific actions in response to school demolitions were not outlined.

How: We Will Continue To Raise This Issue Regularly.

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Q5 Wayne David Lab
NHS
Context

Israel has one of the best vaccination programmes globally, but Palestinians in OPTs need similar access.

Question

The Israeli covid-19 vaccination programme is the best in the world. However, the Minister has indicated that Israel has a legal responsibility to ensure the health and wellbeing of Palestinians on the west bank. Will he therefore join me in urging the Israeli Government to work with the Palestinian Authority to ensure that Palestinians are vaccinated, as well as Israelis?

Answer from James Cleverly

The UK is justifiably proud of the work it is doing on the international stage with regard to vaccinations, including through Gavi and the COVAX scheme. We are pleased to see the Government of Israel and the Palestinian Authority co-ordinating their work with regard to vaccinations, and we look forward to that vaccination programme rolling out not just across Israel but to the people who are living in the OPTs.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific commitment to urging or committing action was not made.

How: We Are Pleased To See Co-Ordination Efforts.

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