Asked by: Scott Arthur (Labour - Edinburgh South West)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether international allies have raised concerns with him on the use of UK made F-35 parts in Gaza.
Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
Conversations with F-35 Partners occur regularly and cover a range of issues, however we are unable to disclose details of confidential conversations held within an international programme.
Asked by: Scott Arthur (Labour - Edinburgh South West)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what diplomatic steps he is taking to help restrict the expansion of illegal settlements in the occupied West Bank.
Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
We are clear that settlements are illegal under international law and undermine the prospects for peace. I have condemned the 22 new settlements announced by Israel on 29 May and we regularly urge Israel to halt settlement expansion in our diplomatic engagements. As I said to the House on 4 June, the viability of a two-state solution, and of the two states living side by side, is being undermined, and we will continue to take action to avert that.
Asked by: Scott Arthur (Labour - Edinburgh South West)
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 international partners on the Israeli government's proposals to permanently (a) occupy Gaza and (b) displace its population.
Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The Prime Minister has been clear that the UK strongly opposes the expansion of Israel's operations in Gaza. We have repeatedly stated that Palestinian territory must not be reduced in the conduct of this war or subjected to demographic change, and that there must be no forced displacement of people from Gaza. Ministers have made these views clear in their contacts with Israeli counterparts. We have worked closely with international partners to set out our concerns in joint statements, including the Prime Minister's joint statement with his Canadian and French counterparts on 19 May. We have also clearly set out our concerns at the UN Security Council. On 20 May, the Foreign Secretary set out the Government's latest steps in response to the situation in Gaza, including suspending negotiations with this Israeli government on a new free trade agreement. He also made clear that if Israel pursues this military offensive as it has threatened, failing to ensure the unhindered provision of aid, we will take further actions in response.
Asked by: Scott Arthur (Labour - Edinburgh South West)
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 NGOs on alternative aid routes into Gaza.
Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
All routes to deliver humanitarian aid into Gaza must be approved by the Government of Israel. The UK regularly engages with the United Nations, humanitarian partners and Non-Governmental Organisations, who provide insights into the challenges facing the humanitarian response in Gaza, informing UK policy. The UK has previously collaborated with regional partners on alternative routes, including air drops and a maritime corridor. However these cannot substitute delivery by land, which remains the best way to get aid in at the scale required. On 19 May, the UK signed a joint donor statement on the humanitarian situation in Gaza calling for a full resumption of aid and for Israel to allow the UN and other aid organisations to operate independently. The Government of Israel must abide by its international obligations to ensure full, rapid, safe and unhindered provision of humanitarian assistance to the population in Gaza.
Asked by: Scott Arthur (Labour - Edinburgh South West)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what economic steps he is taking to encourage Israel to allow aid into Gaza.
Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
On 20 May, the Foreign Secretary announced that we have suspended negotiations with this Israeli Government on a new free trade agreement. We will be reviewing cooperation with them under the 2030 Bilateral Roadmap. On 19 May we issued a statement, with France and Canada, calling on the Israeli Government to stop its military operations in Gaza and immediately allow humanitarian aid to enter. We continue to call on Israel to allow for a full resumption in the flow of aid into Gaza.
Asked by: Scott Arthur (Labour - Edinburgh South West)
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 improve the humanitarian situation in Gaza.
Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
On 28 April, the UK announced a package of support for the Occupied Palestinian Territories, including £101 million for humanitarian aid, support for Palestinian economic development, and strengthening Palestinian Authority governance and reform. As part of this package, on 21 May the Minister for Development announced a £4 million contribution to the British Red Cross to deliver humanitarian relief in Gaza through their partner the Palestinian Red Crescent Society. On 19 May we issued a statement, with France and Canada, calling on the Israeli Government to stop its military operations in Gaza and immediately allow humanitarian aid to enter. We also issued a joint donor statement with 26 other signatories calling for a full resumption of aid into Gaza and for Israel to allow the UN and other aid organisations to operate independently. We continue to call on Israel to allow for a full resumption in the flow of aid into Gaza.
Asked by: Scott Arthur (Labour - Edinburgh South West)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether RAF surveillance flights over Gaza have uncovered evidence of breaches of international law.
Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The operational mandate for these flights, have been narrowly defined to focus on securing the release of the hostages only. These Royal Air Force surveillance flights are unarmed and do not have a combat role. We will not comment further on detailed intelligence matters to protect operational security.
Our International Humanitarian Law (IHL) assessments include information from a wide range of sources, including a third-party contractor specialising in geolocation verification and consider analysis from a wide range of sources including the United Nations, Non-Governmental Organisations, media and organisations on the ground.
Asked by: Scott Arthur (Labour - Edinburgh South West)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he plans to maintain the level of UK funding for the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria.
Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK remains committed to tackling global health challenges and will continue to work with all international partners towards the collective goal of a healthier, safer and more prosperous world. As part of this, we are proud to be co-hosting the 8th replenishment of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria with South Africa and we look forward to the Gavi replenishment on 25 June. Decisions on how the Official Development Assistance budget will be used will be worked through as part of the ongoing Spending Review.
Asked by: Scott Arthur (Labour - Edinburgh South West)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he plans to maintain the level of UK funding for GAVI.
Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK remains committed to tackling global health challenges and will continue to work with all international partners towards the collective goal of a healthier, safer and more prosperous world. As part of this, we are proud to be co-hosting the 8th replenishment of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria with South Africa and we look forward to the Gavi replenishment on 25 June. Decisions on how the Official Development Assistance budget will be used will be worked through as part of the ongoing Spending Review.
Asked by: Scott Arthur (Labour - Edinburgh South West)
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 UK regional allies on alternative aid routes into Gaza.
Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
All routes to deliver humanitarian aid into Gaza must be approved by the Government of Israel. The UK has previously collaborated with regional partners on alternative routes, including air drops and a maritime corridor. However, these cannot substitute delivery by land, which remains the best way to get aid in at the scale required. On 19 May, the UK signed a joint donor statement on the humanitarian situation in Gaza calling for a full resumption of aid and for Israel to allow the UN and other aid organisations to operate independently. The Government of Israel must abide by its international obligations to ensure full, rapid, safe and unhindered provision of humanitarian assistance to the population in Gaza.