Asked by: Apsana Begum (Labour - Poplar and Limehouse)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential implications for his Department's policies of the (a) arrests and (b) detention of (i) student leaders and (ii) protest participants in Bangladesh.
Answered by Catherine West
The Foreign Secretary and I have raised concerns publicly and privately about the recent unprecedented levels of violence, and tragic loss of life in Bangladesh. In July, I spoke to the Bangladesh High Commissioner to reiterate our concerns about the events unfolding in Bangladesh. In our public statements, we urged for an end to the violence and a de-escalation of the situation to prevent further loss of life. We were clear that a full and independent UN-led investigation into recent events was important. The UK Government welcomed the appointment of the Interim Government in Bangladesh, and it has the UK's support as it works to restore peace and order as well as ensure accountability.
Asked by: Apsana Begum (Labour - Poplar and Limehouse)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will make representations to his Bangladeshi counterpart on releasing information on student protests.
Answered by Catherine West
The Foreign Secretary and I have raised concerns publicly and privately about the recent unprecedented levels of violence, and tragic loss of life in Bangladesh. In July, I spoke to the Bangladesh High Commissioner to reiterate our concerns about the events unfolding in Bangladesh. In our public statements, we urged for an end to the violence and a de-escalation of the situation to prevent further loss of life. We were clear that a full and independent UN-led investigation into recent events was important. The UK Government welcomed the appointment of the Interim Government in Bangladesh, and it has the UK's support as it works to restore peace and order as well as ensure accountability.
Asked by: Apsana Begum (Labour - Poplar and Limehouse)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, whether his Department has made a recent estimate of the number of (a) schools, (b) hospitals and (c) refugee camps in Gaza that have been struck by bombs since 8 October 2023.
Answered by Andrew Mitchell
It is clear that the international community will need to make a massive effort to deliver a reconstruction plan for Gaza
All parties must act within International Humanitarian Law. Hamas is putting Palestinian civilians at grave risk by embedding themselves in the civilian population and civilian infrastructure.
We also want to see Israel take greater care to limit its operations to military targets and avoid harming civilians and destroying homes.
The Foreign Secretary and Prime Minister have underlined the need for Israel to increase the amount of aid getting into Gaza, deconflict with the UN and aid agencies, protect civilians and repair vital infrastructure like hospitals and water networks.
Asked by: Apsana Begum (Labour - Poplar and Limehouse)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, whether his Department has made a recent estimate of the number of (a) civilians, (b) women and (c) children (i) killed and (ii) injured in Gaza using UK-made (A) arms and (B) technologies since October 2023.
Answered by Andrew Mitchell
All export licence applications are assessed on a case-by-case basis against the Strategic Export Licensing Criteria. We keep all export licences under careful review.
The Foreign Secretary has underlined the need for Israel to ensure effective deconfliction in Gaza, and we want to see Israel take greater care to limit its operations to military targets.
Asked by: Apsana Begum (Labour - Poplar and Limehouse)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, what information his Department holds on the number of Israeli hostages taken on 7 October 2023; and how many and what proportion (a) have died, (b) have been released and (c) remain in captivity.
Answered by Andrew Mitchell
The FCDO holds information on the hostages being held in Gaza, which is taken and updated regularly from official Israeli government sources. As of 10 April 2024;
• On 7 October, 253 hostages were kidnapped and taken into Gaza.
• 124 hostages have been returned to Israel (112 alive and 12 deceased). 129 hostages remain in Gaza. Of these 129 hostages, the Israeli government has stated that it has evidence that 34 are deceased. The remaining 95 hostages are either presumed alive or their status is unknown.
Asked by: Apsana Begum (Labour - Poplar and Limehouse)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of the decision to withdraw funding from UNWRA on the (a) provision and (b) distribution of aid in Gaza.
Answered by Andrew Mitchell
The UK provided £35 million to UNRWA in the financial year 2023/24, including an uplift of £16 million for the Gaza humanitarian response, all of which was disbursed before the recent allegations came to light.
Our decision to pause future funding to UNRWA has no impact on the UK's contribution to the humanitarian response.
We remain committed to getting humanitarian aid to the people in Gaza who desperately need it, including through other UN agencies and British charities.
Asked by: Apsana Begum (Labour - Poplar and Limehouse)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, whether his Department has made a recent estimate of the number of people who have been displaced in Gaza since 8 October 2023.
Answered by Andrew Mitchell
We want to see Israel take greater care to limit its operations to military targets and avoid harming civilians and destroying homes.
According to a UN estimate, as of 1 April, up to 1.7 million people (over 75% of the population) had been displaced across the Gaza Strip.
As the Prime Minister has told Prime Minister Netanyahu and regional leaders, we are deeply concerned about the prospect of a military offensive in Rafah. Over half of Gaza's population are sheltering in the area, and the Rafah crossing is vital to ensure aid can reach the people who so desperately need it.
Asked by: Apsana Begum (Labour - Poplar and Limehouse)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, what information his Department holds on the number of Israeli (a) civilians, (b) women and (c) children killed since 7 October 2023.
Answered by Andrew Mitchell
Any civilian death is a tragedy. Over 1,200 Israelis and foreign nationals have been killed in Israel, the vast majority on 7 October 2023 according to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA). 253 hostages were also kidnapped and taken into Gaza on 7 October, of whom 124 have been returned to Israel (112 alive and 12 deceased). We continue to call for the immediate release of all remaining hostages.
Asked by: Apsana Begum (Labour - Poplar and Limehouse)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, what information his Department holds on the number of Israeli (a) civilians, (b) women and (c) children that have been killed since 7 October 2023.
Answered by Andrew Mitchell
Any civilian death is a tragedy. The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reports that according to the Hamas-run Ministry of Health, as of 16 January, at least 24,100 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza, of whom about 70% are said to be women and children. We do not have an estimate of what proportion of those killed are civilians. The Government of Israel report that more than 1,300 Israelis, including at least 523 Israel Defence Forces (IDF) soldiers have been killed, with 189 of those deaths in Gaza. We recognise that there must be a reduction in civilian casualties in the conflict; we want to see Israel take greater care to limit its operations to military targets and avoid harming civilians and destroying homes, and we continue to call for international humanitarian law to be respected and civilians to be protected. The Prime Minister has made this clear to Prime Minister Netanyahu repeatedly and has been in close contact throughout.
Asked by: Apsana Begum (Labour - Poplar and Limehouse)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, whether his Department has made a recent estimate of the number of (a) civilians, (b) women and (c) children killed in Gaza since 8 October 2023.
Answered by Andrew Mitchell
Any civilian death is a tragedy. The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reports that according to the Hamas-run Ministry of Health, as of 16 January, at least 24,100 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza, of whom about 70% are said to be women and children. We do not have an estimate of what proportion of those killed are civilians. The Government of Israel report that more than 1,300 Israelis, including at least 523 Israel Defence Forces (IDF) soldiers have been killed, with 189 of those deaths in Gaza. We recognise that there must be a reduction in civilian casualties in the conflict; we want to see Israel take greater care to limit its operations to military targets and avoid harming civilians and destroying homes, and we continue to call for international humanitarian law to be respected and civilians to be protected. The Prime Minister has made this clear to Prime Minister Netanyahu repeatedly and has been in close contact throughout.