Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Gaza Peace Plan

Tuesday 28 October 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 5 Partly answered 1 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Ministerial assurances were given to maintain the fragile ceasefire and ensure humanitarian aid reaches Gaza.
  • The Government emphasized the importance of all parties adhering to the ceasefire and implementing the 20-point peace plan.
  • Questions were raised about the restoration of clean water access in Gaza, highlighting the severe contamination of the coastal aquifer.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Jacob Collier Lab Burton and Uttoxeter
Foreign Affairs
Context

Following the ceasefire agreement in Gaza, concerns about its fragility persist. Fighting continues on the occupied West Bank.

Question

We are grateful to the United States for its co-ordination. This must not be a temporary peace that fades away. As the Foreign Secretary says, the ceasefire remains fragile, with both sides accused of violations, and fighting on the occupied west bank continues. Will my right hon. Friend assure the House that the UK will continue to play an active role in supporting the peace plan and holding all parties to their commitments?

Answer from The Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs (Yvette Cooper)

My hon. Friend is right. Given the horrendous suffering that we have seen over the last two years, we need to ensure that the ceasefire holds. Part of that involves getting the humanitarian aid into Gaza. We are urging for more crossings to be opened and for restrictions on humanitarian aid to be lifted, and we are working on some of the crucial next steps, in conjunction with the US, Arab states and many other states that have been involved in supporting the ceasefire, including through the disarmament of Hamas and the development of new governance arrangements.

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Q2 Warinder Juss Lab Wolverhampton West
Foreign Affairs
Context

Despite the ceasefire, Israeli air strikes continue and restrictions on lifesaving supplies entering Gaza persist.

Question

Despite the most welcome peace plan, we have already seen breaches in the form of Israeli air strikes, with the restriction of lifesaving supplies entering Gaza. What are we doing to ensure that sufficient humanitarian aid can get through to end the famine swiftly, and that the Israeli leadership is held accountable for violations of international law, so that we can finally see an end to the conflict, with no more innocent Palestinian or Israeli lives being lost?

Answer from The Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs (Yvette Cooper)

It is important that all sides hold to the ceasefire and implement all the steps committed to as part of President Trump’s 20-point peace plan. That involves getting the humanitarian aid in place and maintaining the ceasefire. We are working with the US and other countries to support an effective monitoring arrangement so that there can be a proper process in place to ensure that all sides hold to the ceasefire and keep moving forward.

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Q3 Nadia Whittome Lab Nottingham East
Foreign Affairs
Context

Israeli forces continue to kill Palestinians over two weeks into the ceasefire, raising concerns about the long-term viability of the yellow line marking a temporary border.

Question

Over two weeks into the ceasefire in Gaza, Israeli forces are still killing Palestinians. Many are being shot at as they attempt to return to their homes near a yellow line marked by Israel—a line that Israeli media are increasingly calling a new border. What will the Government do to ensure that this supposedly temporary yellow line does not become a permanent border and effectively cut Gaza in half?

Answer from The Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs (Yvette Cooper)

We have been clear that not only can we not divide Gaza, but that this first phase has to be part of the journey to a two-state solution that includes Gaza, east Jerusalem and the west bank. That is the only way we will get a just and lasting peace. Transition arrangements are set out as part of the 20-point plan, but it is really crucial that we not only maintain the original ceasefire agreement—the first phase—but that we keep making progress on the rest of the points in the 20-point plan and the second phase.

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Q4 Bob Blackman Con Harrow East
Foreign Affairs
Context

Hostages have been returned, but the remains of deceased hostages have not all been recovered.

Question

Thankfully, the living hostages have been returned to receive medical attention and go back to their families, but, very sadly, the bodies of the deceased hostages have not all been returned. That is a key element in this ceasefire treaty. What action is the Foreign Secretary taking to ensure that Israel is supported—and, if necessary, that the Palestinians are supported—to identify the bodies of the deceased hostages and that those bodies are returned, so that there can be closure for the families?

Answer from The Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs (Yvette Cooper)

The hon. Member makes an immensely important point. We will all have seen the incredibly moving scenes of hostages returning after the most horrendous captivity, and being returned to their families, but there are those who have lost loved ones—those whose loved ones were taken in that barbaric terrorist attack on 7 October—and are still waiting to have their remains returned. I have spoken to families whose loved ones were lost and who have had the remains returned, but I know how difficult this is and that people need to be able to grieve and pay tribute to their loved ones. We are continuing to press for all the hostage remains to be released. We have also offered support—for example, demining capabilities, where there are concerns about ordnance that might prevent the recovery of remains.

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Q5 Tim Farron Lib Dem Westmorland and Lonsdale
Foreign Affairs Environment
Context

Access to clean water is critical for the humanitarian situation in Gaza, where up to 97% of tap water is unfit for consumption.

Question

How will the United Kingdom help to ensure that the Gaza peace plan includes measures to restore access to clean and plentiful water? The main source of fresh water in Gaza is the coastal aquifer, which is contaminated by sea water, sewage and chemicals. Up to 97% of Gaza’s tap water is unfit for human consumption. Surely the Foreign Secretary agrees that there can be no just peace amidst thirst and squalor.

Answer from The Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs (Yvette Cooper)

The hon. Member is right to highlight water as a crucial humanitarian aid and support. I have spoken to Tom Fletcher, who is co-ordinating much of the UN support, and to the Egyptian and Israeli Foreign Ministers about the importance of ensuring that the crossings are open so that water can be provided and critical infrastructure rebuilt. That will require financing, and my hon. Friend the Middle East Minister has already been involved in looking at ways in which we can finance reconstruction for the long term.

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Q6 Calum Miller Lib Dem Bicester and Woodstock
Foreign Affairs
Context

In the context of a ceasefire in Gaza, concerns about the future of Palestine were raised. The Knesset voted to annex parts of the West Bank, drawing criticism from US Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

Question

At this hopeful but fragile moment for Gaza, all sides must fulfil their ceasefire obligations. That includes Hamas returning hostages' bodies and Israel reopening aid routes into Gaza. We must also preserve conditions for a two-state solution; last week's Knesset vote in favour of annexing the West Bank undermines Palestinians' right to self-determination. Given US Secretary of State Rubio's condemnation, will the Foreign Secretary work with the American Administration to bring forward a UN Security Council resolution unreservedly condemning that vote and reaffirming the illegality of seizing territory by force?

Answer from The Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs (Yvette Cooper)

As I hope I have been clear, the future of Palestine needs to include the west bank, east Jerusalem and Gaza. We have always strongly condemned any proposals to annex the west bank, as well as illegal settlements in the west bank, and it is significant that not only Secretary of State Rubio but President Trump and Vice-President Pence have made clear their condemnation of the proposals for the annexation of the west bank. In order to have security and peace for Israelis alongside security and peace for Palestinians, we ultimately need to work towards a two-state solution—two states living side by side.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The UK's commitment to bring forward a UN Security Council resolution specifically condemning the annexation vote was not addressed directly; instead, the response reiterated condemnation of West Bank annexation generally.

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