Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Gaza: Humanitarian Situation

Tuesday 28 October 2025 · 2 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 2 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Paul Davies expressed support for the US-brokered ceasefire that facilitated humanitarian aid delivery to Gaza.
  • Caroline Voaden raised concerns about the rejection of aid requests by international NGOs due to lack of authorization from Israel.
  • The Minister highlighted the need for full implementation of the ceasefire agreement and urged for increased aid flow into Gaza.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Paul Davies Lab Colne Valley
Foreign Affairs
Context

The humanitarian crisis in Gaza has worsened due to border closures and political tensions obstructing aid delivery. The US-brokered ceasefire agreement has enabled some aid deliveries, but more action is needed.

Question

I fully support the Minister in welcoming the US-brokered ceasefire, which has enabled the delivery of much-needed humanitarian aid into Gaza. As the Minister is aware, the UN and its partners have significantly scaled up their operations providing essential supplies, such as food, water, medical aid and fuel. However, given that border closures and ongoing political tensions continue to obstruct the flow of assistance, what steps are the Government taking to ensure unimpeded humanitarian access, and to prevent aid being used as a tool of political leverage?

Answer from Hamish Falconer

Following the US-led ceasefire agreement and the UN’s work, more trucks are starting to cross the border, but that needs to be scaled up much more rapidly, and we need the Rafah crossing fully opened, alongside other aid routes. We need international non-governmental organisations in, and able to operate in Gaza unimpeded. Civilians in Gaza cannot wait.

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Q2 Caroline Voaden Lib Dem South Devon
Asylum & Refugees Foreign Affairs
Context

International NGOs face significant barriers to delivering aid into Gaza, with Israel rejecting numerous requests for entry. The Norwegian Refugee Council reports that between 10 and 21 October, 99 such requests were rejected.

Question

The Norwegian Refugee Council says that, between 10 and 21 October, 99 requests by international NGOs to deliver aid to Gaza were rejected by Israel on the grounds that the organisations were “not authorised” to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza, yet these trusted agencies have operated there for decades. Can the Minister tell the people of Gaza who are living in makeshift shelters, and who are hungry and thirsty, what the UK Government are actually doing to compel the Israeli authorities to immediately allow aid deliveries into Gaza?

Answer from Hamish Falconer

We need to see the agreement implemented in full. The Foreign Secretary has raised this particular case with the Foreign Minister of Israel. We will continue to press for the full flow of aid that needs to go in. The hon. Member rightly asked me what I say to the people of Gaza. I say that we understand the urgency, and that the aid needs to be in there now. We will continue to press those points on the phone, and when we both go to the region this weekend.

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