Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the capacity of the Rafah crossing in Egypt to enable the delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza; and whether he has had discussions with his Israeli counterpart on transporting aid from Israel to Gaza.

The FCDO is actively engaging with international partners and those operating on the ground to do all we can to address the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. The Prime Minister and the Foreign Secretary engage regularly and closely with regional counterparts including Israel and Egypt on the humanitarian response. The UK urges Israel to increase land access through the Rafah crossing as well as open other crossing points, in particular Kerem Shalom, so that aid can reach the people who so desperately need it. Humanitarian assistance allowed into Gaza needs to include food, water, medical supplies and fuel as a priority. The Prime Minister has also been very clear about the need for sustained humanitarian pauses, so humanitarian organisations can deliver aid safely at scale and civilians move freely. The UK Government has already announced £30 million in humanitarian funding, more than doubling our existing budget this financial year, and has sent more than 51 tonnes of aid as well as equipment specifically requested by the Egyptian Red Crescent to help the efficiency of the international aid response, including lifesaving items such as wound care packs and water filters.