Asked by: Imran Hussain (Labour - Bradford East)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Deputy Foreign Secretary, what discussions (a) he, (b) his Ministers and (c) officials from his Department have had with their counterparts in Israel on the (i) airstrike at Al Mawasi on 18 January 2024, (ii) killings of World Central Kitchen workers in Gaza on 1 April 2024 and (iii) discovery of mass graves at al-Nasser hospital in Khan Younis.
Answered by Andrew Mitchell - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Minister for Development)
The Foreign Secretary has underlined the need for Israel to ensure effective deconfliction in Gaza and ensure effective systems to guarantee the safety of humanitarian operations. It must take all possible measures to ensure the safety of medical personnel and facilities. The Foreign Secretary has made our position clear to his Israeli counterparts, including during his visit to the region on 17 April, and we continue to raise this with Israel at the highest levels.
Reports of the discovery of mass graves in Gaza, including within medical facilities, are deeply concerning. We continue to call on all parties to respect International Humanitarian Law and ensure the protection of civilians.