Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, what diplomatic steps he is taking to secure an extension to the humanitarian pause in Gaza.

The pause that ended last week was a crucial step towards providing relief to the families of the hostages and addressing the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. We have said repeatedly we'd like to see an extension. UK humanitarian funding will continue to support trusted partners provide humanitarian assistance and negotiate humanitarian access in Gaza. The UK will continue, in conjunction with our international partners, to advocate internationally on humanitarian priorities. These include respect for International Humanitarian Law, the need for fuel, humanitarian access, humanitarian pauses; and an increase in the types of assistance. We are urgently exploring all diplomatic options to increase this, including urging Israel to open other existing land border crossings such as Kerem Shalom.