Gaza: Humanitarian Situation

Danny Chambers Excerpts

Thursday 12th November 2026 Commons Chamber

[Stephen Doughty]

We engage closely with our American counterparts on a range of issues every day, as my hon. Friend will know. While we are not part of the board of peace, we have engaged closely with it and the efforts on the 20-point plan. It is crucial that that is able to move forward. Part of that is making sure that there is humanitarian access for aid supplies. We will work with all partners internationally to address these appalling issues on the ground, which she rightly described.

[Dr Danny Chambers (Winchester) (LD)]

I am also genuinely shocked that the shadow Foreign Secretary would use a horrific humanitarian crisis in an attempt to score cheap political points.

The flooding in Gaza has added more suffering to what was already a horrific and deteriorating situation, if that were even possible, and the Israeli Government preventing aid from getting in is making life even worse for elderly people, sick people and children. I very much welcome the Minister’s commitment to further aid and the condemnation of the Israeli Government’s actions, but could he highlight what specific actions are being taken by us and our allies to ensure that Israel does allow aid in, including any further sanctions and when those will be imposed? Will the Israeli ambassador be summoned to No. 10 by the end of today?

[Stephen Doughty]

The hon. Gentleman has already heard what I said about our engagement directly with the Israeli Government in Tel Aviv and here. I can assure him that multiple conversations are going on. I could not be clearer publicly, let alone privately, about what needs to happen. We are conveying that in every way possible and working with international partners.

I reassure the hon. Gentleman and other colleagues about the humanitarian funding we are providing to Palestine overall. Of the £78.3 million we already announced, £74.9 million has been disbursed to partners already, including in Gaza and the west bank. I assure him that the work we are doing is making a difference. Given the scale of need that he describes and what we saw at the weekend, so much more needs to get in and so much more needs to be done. That is what we are pressing for.