Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask Her Majesty’s Government further to the Written Answer by Baroness Anelay of St Johns on 2 June (HL10), what is their assessment of the cause of the conflict in Gaza, and in particular the effect of Israel's military occupation; and what improvements in living standards have been delivered to the people of Gaza following Israel’s lifting of certain restrictions.

The underlying causes of the conflict in Gaza are rocket fire and other attacks against Israel from Hamas and other militant groups; Israeli restrictions on movement and access; and the lack of progress made by the Palestinian Authority in returning to Gaza to restore effective and accountable governance. Israeli restrictions damage the economy and living standards of ordinary people in Gaza. Israel’s lifting of certain restrictions has resulted in some limited improvements in living standards in Gaza compared to the situation in the immediate aftermath of last summer’s conflict. The water supply has been doubled, more agricultural produce is leaving Gaza for export to Israel or transfer to the West Bank, and the Gaza Reconstruction Mechanism is facilitating repairs. However, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs assesses that the humanitarian situation in Gaza remains dire. We are continuing to call on Israel to ease movement and access restrictions further.