Asked by: Daniel Francis (Labour - Bexleyheath and Crayford)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent steps he has taken to help ensure the release of Dr Hussam Abu Safiya.
Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office raised his case with the Israeli Chargé d'Affaires in London and the Deputy Head of Mission at the British Embassy in Tel Aviv raised it directly with Israel's Ministry of Foreign Affairs. We have been clear that the Israeli authorities are responsible for ensuring Dr Abu Safiya is not mistreated and that he receives access to legal, medical and family support. We will continue to monitor developments closely and raise his case with the Israeli authorities.
We continue to call on the Government of Israel to grant the International Committee of the Red Cross immediate, unrestricted access to all detention facilities.
Asked by: Daniel Francis (Labour - Bexleyheath and Crayford)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps she is taking to help ensure adequate levels of aid are reaching Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank.
Answered by Hamish Falconer - Minister of State (Cabinet Office) (Jointly with the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
Despite some progress on humanitarian supplies entering Gaza since the ceasefire, aid flows remain insufficient and the majority of the population - including tens of thousands of children - are still experiencing high levels of acute food insecurity, with severe implications for their vulnerability and long-term health.
The temporary closure of all crossings into Gaza following the start of hostilities in the wider region has exacerbated these concerns. We welcome the reopening of the Kerem Shalom crossing, but we continue to urge the Israeli authorities to lift all restrictions on humanitarian relief agencies, and enable the resumption of aid at scale and through all crossings, so that supplies of aid can reach all those who desperately need them.
Asked by: Daniel Francis (Labour - Bexleyheath and Crayford)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of aid reaching Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank.
Answered by Hamish Falconer - Minister of State (Cabinet Office) (Jointly with the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
Despite some progress on humanitarian supplies entering Gaza since the ceasefire, aid flows remain insufficient and the majority of the population - including tens of thousands of children - are still experiencing high levels of acute food insecurity, with severe implications for their vulnerability and long-term health.
The temporary closure of all crossings into Gaza following the start of hostilities in the wider region has exacerbated these concerns. We welcome the reopening of the Kerem Shalom crossing, but we continue to urge the Israeli authorities to lift all restrictions on humanitarian relief agencies, and enable the resumption of aid at scale and through all crossings, so that supplies of aid can reach all those who desperately need them.