Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking, if any, to support the provision of COVID-19 vaccines (1) to the Occupied Palestinian Territories, and (2) Palestinian prisoners in Israel.

The UK will deliver on its commitment to global equitable access to safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines through the COVAX Advanced Market Commitment (AMC). The UK has supported the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPTs) to be included in the COVAX. I most recently discussed this with the Palestinian Foreign Minister Riad al-Malki on 10th December and provided assurances that the UK will continue to coordinate closely with the Palestinian Authority (PA) so that vaccines are rolled out across the OPTs.

UK officials regularly engage in dialogue with the Government of Israel, including on issues affecting Palestinian prisoners in Israel and to discuss co-operation with the PA. We have not yet raised the issue of vaccine provision to Palestinian prisoners but will monitor the situation accordingly.