Gaza: Humanitarian Situation

Rupa Huq Excerpts

Thursday 12th November 2026 Commons Chamber

[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.

[Dr Rupa Huq (Ealing Central and Acton) (Lab)]

Against the backdrop of a war that has seen a record number of orphaned child amputees, the news that equipment to alleviate the devastating floods in Gaza is being blocked at the border continues a pattern that we have seen with medicines and baby food. Does the Minister agree that without actual evidence that this is being done for military purposes, it looks like collective punishment? Will he restate our adherence to the ICJ process and use maximum pressure? Change of Government or not, a change of action is needed.

[Stephen Doughty]

A change of action is absolutely needed. I have heard the same reports as my hon. Friend about medicines, prosthetics and other items being denied entry. She will note that I announced what we are doing, particularly on the issue of prosthetics. Of course, we also need to get access for people to be medically evacuated, as we have already done with a number of severe cases, including here to the UK. We need to open up new routes for people to get treated in the region, too. Most crucially, hospitals in Gaza need to have the equipment and capability necessary to function as hospitals and not to face devastating attacks that kill their personnel.