Asked by: Laurence Turner (Labour - Birmingham Northfield)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent assessment he has made of the implications for his policies of the humanitarian situation in the north of Gaza.
Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The humanitarian situation in Gaza is unacceptable. The Foreign Secretary's statement to Parliament underlined our serious concern about northern Gaza. On 16th October I visited Al-Arish and saw the scale of humanitarian aid denied entry into Gaza, Israel can and must do more to ensure aid flows freely into Gaza. Very little aid is being allowed in, and civilians, medical personnel, hospitals and healthcare centres are coming under fire at an unacceptable rate. Israel must do much more to protect civilians, including the medics northern Gaza desperately needs, and let more aid in now. The Prime Minister met with President Biden, Chancellor Scholz, and President Macron in Berlin on 18 October to discuss the situation in northern Gaza and the Middle East more broadly. He made our position clear: "the world will not tolerate any more excuses on humanitarian assistance. Civilians in northern Gaza need food, now." We continue, alongside our partners, to press Israel to take action - Israel must show the world it is protecting civilians in compliance with international humanitarian law.
Asked by: Laurence Turner (Labour - Birmingham Northfield)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential implications for its policies of the (a) findings and (b) recommendations of the report entitled Detention in the context of the escalation of hostilities in Gaza (October 2023-June 2024), published by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights on 31 July 2024.
Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
As the Foreign Secretary outlined in his statement to the House of Commons on 2 September, the UK's concern about the treatment of detainees was one of the factors determining the UK's decision to suspend certain arms export licences to Israel that could be used in the conflict in Gaza. We have read the recommendations produced by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights. We urge Israel to reinstate immediate and unfettered access for the International Committee of the Red Cross into detention centres as required by international law. The Prime Minister and Foreign Secretary continue to press Israeli leaders on the importance of upholding International Humanitarian Law. We want to see an immediate ceasefire, the release of all hostages, the protection of all civilians, much more aid entering Gaza and a path to long-term peace and stability.
Asked by: Laurence Turner (Labour - Birmingham Northfield)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 30 July 2024 to Question 863 on Special Envoy on Freedom of Religion or Belief, when he plans to decide on the special envoy roles.
Answered by Anneliese Dodds - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
This Government will champion freedom of religion or belief (FoRB) for all abroad. No one should live in fear because of what they do, or do not, believe in. Envoy roles are under Ministerial consideration and will be decided upon in due course. In the meantime, we will continue to use the strength of our global diplomatic network, including dedicated staff within the FCDO, to promote and protect FoRB around the world.
Asked by: Laurence Turner (Labour - Birmingham Northfield)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he is taking to help (a) reduce hostilities and (b) secure deliveries of humanitarian aid in Darfur.
Answered by Anneliese Dodds - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK is pursuing all diplomatic avenues to press the warring parties into a permanent ceasefire, allow unrestricted humanitarian access, protect civilians and commit to a sustained and meaningful peace process. We will continue to support and encourage international mediation efforts by: using our influence on the multilateral stage; direct messaging to the warring parties; and pressing for greater coordination between the different mediation tracks. We welcomed the re-opening of the Adre border on the 15 August. However, the warring parties must remove any unnecessary restrictions on trucks moving through Adre to urgently facilitate unimpeded access to those most in need. The UK called a UN Security Council session on 6 August to urgently discuss the findings by the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC)'s Famine Review Committee that famine is present in Sudan's Zamzam Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camp in Northern Darfur, and we called on the warring parties to stop the obstruction of aid.
Asked by: Laurence Turner (Labour - Birmingham Northfield)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will resume funding for the UN Relief and Works Agency.
Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
As the Foreign Secretary announced on 19 July, UNRWA is absolutely central to humanitarian efforts on Gaza. It also plays a critical role in the wider region in providing essential services, including healthcare and education, to Palestinian refugees. The UK is committed to supporting UNRWA's lifesaving work, and will resume funding, releasing £21 million new funding for its work in Gaza and the region.