Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Gaza: Humanitarian Situation

Tuesday 13 May 2025 · 6 questions

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

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 0 Partly answered 6 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Sarah Smith noted the intentional blockade of food, water and medicine by the Israeli Government affecting thousands of vulnerable children in Gaza.
  • Joe Morris highlighted the looming famine in Gaza affecting over 2 million people due to the deterioration of the ceasefire agreement.
  • David Chadwick asked about actions being taken by the UK Government to lift the blockade and secure delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Sarah Smith Lab Hyndburn
NHS Foreign Affairs Children & Families
Context

The current blockade by the Israeli Government is preventing essential supplies from reaching thousands of children in Gaza, leading to a dire humanitarian situation. Save the Children estimates that over 65,000 children are suffering.

Question

Sarah Smith noted the intentional blockade of food, water and medicine by the Israeli Government which is preventing life-sustaining supplies from reaching thousands of vulnerable children in Gaza who face malnutrition and premature death due to lack of aid. She asked for decisive action beyond the E3 statement to make clear that Israel's siege must end immediately and a humanitarian aid system cannot be replaced with military control. Will he consider sanctions and cessation of arms trade as a means to address this situation?

Answer from The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs (Mr Hamish Falconer)

My hon. Friend is right to raise the plight of children in Gaza and all those suffering from lack of aid and conflict. The Government have been clear that the ceasefire must be restored. Since the E3 statement, we have taken the decision jointly with partners to call an urgent session of the UN Security Council, given the gravity of the situation.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Sanctions and cessation of arms trade were not addressed specifically

How: Under Review, Considering

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Q2 Joe Morris Lab Hexham
Foreign Affairs
Context

The deterioration of the ceasefire agreement is causing a looming famine, putting the entire population at risk of food insecurity and potential famine. The humanitarian situation in Gaza is deteriorating rapidly.

Question

Joe Morris highlighted the looming famine in Gaza caused by the deterioration of the ceasefire agreement, stating that over 2 million people face catastrophic hunger levels. He asked for assurance from the Minister about supporting every possible opportunity to get vital resources and humanitarian aid into Gaza.

Answer from The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs (Mr Hamish Falconer)

I can give my hon. Friend that assurance. We are doing everything we can to ensure that aid gets in, hostages are released, Hamas is no longer in charge of Gaza, and a ceasefire leading to a two-state solution is achieved.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Release of hostages and removal of Hamas control from Gaza were mentioned but did not address humanitarian aid delivery directly

How: Not Addressed

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Q3 Paul Waugh Labour (Co-op) Rochdale
Business & Trade
Context

The UN's Philippe Lazzarini described Israel as committing a “massive atrocity” by blocking aid to children in Gaza. The Palestinian people need more trade with countries like the UK, particularly for goods such as olive oil, herbs, dates, and tech companies operating in West Bank and Gaza.

Question

Paul Waugh referenced Philippe Lazzarini's statement that Israel is committing a “massive atrocity” by blocking aid to children in Gaza. He asked how constituents can buy more Palestinian goods like olive oil, herbs, dates, and support tech companies and co-operatives operating in the West Bank and Gaza.

Answer from The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs (Mr Hamish Falconer)

I know that Rochdale is home to the co-operative movement in this country, and there are many co-operatives in the Occupied Palestinian Territories. On 20 April, we signed a memorandum of understanding with the Palestinian Authority which includes pursuing further cooperation in economic development and trade.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific actions to facilitate direct trade were not outlined

How: Not Addressed

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Q4 David Chadwick Lib Dem Brecon, Radnor and Cwm Tawe
Foreign Affairs
Context

Over 2 million people face catastrophic hunger levels due to the Israeli Government's blockade on Gaza. The situation is dire with an imminent famine.

Question

David Chadwick asked about actions being taken by UK Government to lift the blockade and secure delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza, highlighting that over 2 million people are facing catastrophic hunger levels.

Answer from The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs (Mr Hamish Falconer)

This Government have a clear position on the importance of aid returning to Gaza. We are calling an urgent session of the UN Security Council this afternoon. The Foreign Secretary has repeatedly made these points to Israeli counterparts.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Lifting the blockade was not directly addressed, only actions towards securing humanitarian aid were mentioned

How: Not Addressed

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Q5 Clive Efford Lab Eltham and Chislehurst
Foreign Affairs
Context

Mr. Lazzarini, a UN official, stated that children in Gaza are more likely to die of starvation than violence, highlighting the urgent need for aid.

Question

Children in Gaza are more likely to die of starvation than from acts of violence according to Mr. Lazzarini. What does my hon. Friend expect from today’s session at the UN? What specific actions will be taken that would move the situation forward? Israel cannot be allowed to continue using food as a weapon of war.

Answer from The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs (Mr Hamish Falconer)

I think I was clear about the Government’s expectations in my previous answer. Those expectations are grounded in Israel’s international legal obligations. Ultimately, this is a week of diplomacy: the President of the United States will be in the region, and we will raise these issues in the Security Council. I hope that diplomacy will be able to make progress towards a ceasefire and the restoration of aid.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not provide specific actions or demands expected from today’s session at the UN

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Q6 Calum Miller Lib Dem Bicester and Woodstock
Foreign Affairs
Context

Gaza has been starved of humanitarian aid for over 70 days. The Foreign Secretary withdrew his assessment that the blockade is a breach of international law in March.

Question

Gaza has been starved of humanitarian aid for over 70 days now. Ministers have repeatedly expressed disappointment but there is no evidence that Israel will listen or intend to reopen supply routes. In March, the Foreign Secretary withdrew his assessment that the blockade is a breach of international law. Will the Minister state how many days the blockade must continue before the Government recognise it as a breach of international law? To make clear the UK’s support for Palestine’s right to self-determination and opposition to annexation by force, will the Government commit to working with France towards joint recognition of the state of Palestine at the conference next month?

Answer from The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs (Mr Hamish Falconer)

The Foreign Secretary has been clear repeatedly, as have all Ministers from the Dispatch Box, that it is the long-standing policy of British Governments that we do not make legal determinations. We made an assessment when we arrived that there was a real risk of serious breaches of international humanitarian law, and that continues to be our finding. Given the events that many in this House have rightly raised, we continue to make those assessments and include all those events in them. On the French-Saudi conference in June, we continue to talk with all our partners. As I said in my previous answer, this is a period for diplomacy. A ceasefire is desperately needed, and it is diplomacy that will get us through to the next stage.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not specify how many days the blockade must continue before being recognised as a breach of international law; did not commit to working with France on joint recognition of Palestine’s statehood

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