Asked by: Kirith Entwistle (Labour - Bolton North East)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent steps his Department has taken to secure an end to the violence in Gaza.
Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
In recent weeks, the Foreign Secretary has spoken to Secretary Rubio, Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar, Israeli Minister for Strategic Affairs Ron Dermer, EU High Representative Kallas and the UN emergency relief co-ordinator, Tom Fletcher.
On 15 April, the Foreign Secretary met with his Israeli counterpart Gideon Sa'ar in London. During the conversation, he pressed Israel to restore humanitarian access, raised serious concerns about the deaths of aid workers, and made clear the urgent need of returning to a ceasefire and a negotiated path forward. The Foreign Secretary plans to speak to Palestinian PM Mustafa shortly. The UK made statements in the UN Security Council on Tuesday 18 March and Friday 21 March and joined a G7 Foreign Ministers' statement the week before. An E3 Foreign Ministers statement issued on Friday 21 March calling on all parties to re-engage with negotiations to ensure the ceasefire is implemented in full and becomes permanent.
Asked by: Kirith Entwistle (Labour - Bolton North East)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent steps his Department has taken to ensure that aid can reach people in Gaza.
Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The Foreign Secretary met with Israeli Foreign Minister Sa'ar on 15 April to press Israel to restore the flow of humanitarian aid into Gaza and raise concerns about the safety of aid workers in the region. On 21 March, the UK issued a joint statement with France and Germany, making clear that Israel should fully respect international law and allow the flow of aid immediately. We called on Israel to restore humanitarian access, restore water and electricity, and ensure access to medical care and medical evacuations in accordance with international humanitarian law. I also spoke to the Emergency Relief Coordinator, Tom Fletcher, about the humanitarian situation in Gaza on 14 March. We announced £129 million for the Occupied Palestinian Territories in 2024/25 Financial Year and will continue to play a key humanitarian role in Gaza.
Asked by: Kirith Entwistle (Labour - Bolton North East)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions he has had with (a) Cabinet Colleagues and (b) his Israeli counterpart on ending hostilities in Gaza.
Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The Foreign Secretary has raised the Israeli operations in Gaza with his Israeli counterparts. On 15 April, the Foreign Secretary met with his Israeli counterpart Gideon Sa'ar in London. During the conversation, he pressed Israel to restore humanitarian access, raised serious concerns about the deaths of aid workers, and made clear the urgent need of returning to a ceasefire and a negotiated path forward.
As he has made clear in Parliament, the UK is seriously concerned by the expansion of Israel's operations in Gaza and the displacement of Palestinians. Palestinians must be allowed home. Civilians must be protected and the destruction of civilian infrastructure minimised. We urge Israel to immediately re-start a rapid and unimpeded flow of humanitarian aid to Gaza in order to meet the needs of all civilians.
Asked by: Kirith Entwistle (Labour - Bolton North East)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will visit the Bolton Council of Mosques to discuss the conflict in Israel and Palestine; and if he will invite that Council to a meeting in his Department.
Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
As of now, there are no scheduled visits for the Foreign Secretary to Bolton. However, the Foreign Secretary welcomes correspondence from the Bolton Council of Mosques to learn more about their initiatives and efforts.