Gaza: Humanitarian Situation

Ellie Chowns Excerpts

Thursday 12th November 2026 Commons Chamber

[Stephen Doughty]

My hon. Friend clearly and passionately sets out the situation in Gaza. I hope I have been very clear today that we are making demands, and that it is not just us, but the United Nations and other countries doing so. We will be bringing together other people in that demand in New York today.

[Dr Ellie Chowns (North Herefordshire) (Green)]

The humanitarian situation in Gaza is absolutely horrific. The Minister says that he is here today to send a clear message to the Israeli Government to let in the aid, but as he himself has pointed out, he and others have been sending that same message and predicting this situation for months and indeed years. Unless asks are accompanied by action, they will be ignored, as they have been over and over again. The Minister talks about contributing more UK aid, but what is the point if it is just going to sit on the border, blocked from getting through the border crossings by the Israeli Government? I welcome the expansion of the global human rights sanctions regime to cover blocking delivery of humanitarian aid; surely deregistering 37 humanitarian organisations and stopping tents getting through to people facing horrific flooding counts as that. How much longer does the Minister need to wait until he acts?

[Stephen Doughty]

With the greatest respect, we are acting, we have acted and we will continue to act. Ultimately, the responsibility here lies with Israel as the occupying power. It is failing to deliver on those requirements, and we are going to hold it to account in every way possible. We have taken powers and announced additional money today. We will continue to demand directly with Israel, and with others publicly, and to build international pressure and consensus around that. That is exactly what we are doing in New York today—bringing together other countries and ensuring that that pressure is brought to bear on Israel to uphold its responsibilities.