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 ensure that Palestinians displaced during the conflict in Gaza will be able to return to their homes.

Our focus right now is getting humanitarian aid into Gaza and to Palestinian civilians there, given United Nations assessments that 2.2 million people in Gaza need access to safe drinking water and food. Since 7 October, the UK Government has already announced an additional £30 million in humanitarian funding and has sent more than 51 tonnes of emergency relief for civilians in the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPTs). 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.

The Foreign Secretary will continue to engage regularly and closely with his Israeli counterparts to ensure the delivery of humanitarian aid to the people in Gaza. The UK position is also clear: all sides must abide by their international obligations and all sides must respect International Humanitarian Law. Both the Prime Minister and the former Foreign Secretary have, in their discussions with their Israeli counterparts, emphasised the importance of taking all possible measures to protect civilians.