Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether his Department is taking steps to increase aid to Gaza as a result of recent damage to (a) hospitals and (b) medical care facilities.

The UK is aware of reporting from the World Health Organization (WHO) and other trusted sources that have documented a number of attacks against civilian infrastructure, including health care facilities. The UK is clear that under International Humanitarian Law, civilian infrastructure including hospitals, medical facilities, shelters and water and sanitation systems must be protected in conflict. The UK is taking steps to increase humanitarian access and the flow of aid into Gaza. We are calling for humanitarian pauses to allow for unimpeded humanitarian access, and for Israel to open other border crossings to enable more humanitarian aid to reach civilians in need. Since 7 October, the UK Government has provided an additional £30 million in humanitarian funding and has sent more than 51 tonnes of emergency relief for civilians in the Occupied Palestinian Territories. This funding will support the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) in responding to critical food, water, health, shelter and security needs in Gaza.