Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment he has made of Hamas' role in and steps taken to maintain the ceasefire announced in August 2014.

We assess that Hamas played a significant role in the ceasefire agreement announced in August 2014. Although there has so far been no significant resumption of hostilities, we continue to have serious concerns over the implementation of the ceasefire agreement by both Palestinian factions and Israel. It is important that Hamas’ military wing and other militant factions cease all military activity. We reiterate the need for the fundamental causes of conflict to be addressed, including lifting of the restrictions on the Gaza Strip, in order to prevent a return to conflict.