Asked by: Nadia Whittome (Labour - Nottingham East)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, pursuant to his answer of 12 March 2024 to Question 16922 on Egypt: Gaza, if he will make representations to his Egyptian counterparts on (a) an investigation into the alleged demand for large sums of money from Palestinians seeking to exit Gaza and (b) an immediate end to any system in place that allows for this practice.
Answered by Andrew Mitchell - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Minister for Development)
We continue to monitor the situation. We maintain a close dialogue with Egypt on a range of issues relating to the conflict in Gaza.
We also continue to work with the Israeli and Egyptian authorities to facilitate British Nationals and eligible dependents to leave Gaza.
Asked by: Claire Hanna (Social Democratic & Labour Party - Belfast South)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, what recent discussions he has had with his Egyptian counterpart on (a) the arbitrary detainment of prisoners and (b) alleged human rights abuses in prisons in that country.
Answered by Andrew Mitchell - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Minister for Development)
The UK Government raises human rights issues in Egypt with Egyptian counterparts in London and Cairo, privately and publicly. We want to see more political progress and better protection of human rights in Egypt, including implementation of the rights guaranteed by Egypt's constitution, which are essential for Egypt's long-term stability. The Minister of State for the Middle East, Lord (Tariq) Ahmad of Wimbledon most recently discussed both arbitrary detention of prisoners and alleged human rights abuses in prisons with the Egyptian Ambassador on 20 February. In March and September 2023, we raised human rights in Egypt through our Item 4 statements at the Human Rights Council. The FCDO has also raised concerns regarding inadequate prison conditions in our Annual Human Rights and Democracy Reports 2022 and 2023.
Asked by: Kenny MacAskill (Alba Party - East Lothian)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, what assessment he has made of the integrity of the democratic process for the 2023 presidential elections in Egypt.
Answered by David Rutley - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
Egypt held Presidential elections from 10-12 December 2023. The UK did not take part in formal election observation but encouraged free and fair elections. While a number of opposition candidates ran against President Abd El Fattah El-Sisi without issue, some claimed that they had faced obstacles to participating in the run up to the election. With 66.8 percent of the population voting, President Sisi secured 89.6 percent of the votes.
Asked by: Drew Hendry (Scottish National Party - Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, if he will hold discussions with his Egyptian counterpart on opening the Rafah border crossing into Egypt to Palestinian refugees.
Answered by Leo Docherty - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for the Armed Forces)
We continue to discuss with our Egyptian counterparts a wide range of issues relating to the humanitarian situation in Gaza. Our priority is addressing the crisis in Gaza itself - we recognise that there is a desperate need for increased humanitarian support and so our focus must be on practical solutions that save lives.
As we have said, Israel must take steps, working with other partners including the UN and Egypt, to significantly increase the flow of aid into Gaza including allowing prolonged humanitarian pauses, opening more routes into Gaza and restoring and sustaining water, fuel and electricity. The Foreign Secretary discussed the urgency of getting significantly more aid into Gaza to alleviate the desperate situation there with Prime Minister Netanyahu on 24 January. He reiterated the need for Israel to open more crossing points into Gaza, for Nitzana and Kerem Shalom to be open for longer, and for Israel to support the UN to distribute aid effectively across the whole of Gaza. An immediate pause is now necessary to get aid in and hostages out.
Nov. 02 2023
Source Page: UK airlift to Egypt delivers vital equipment to support aid crossing to GazaFound: UK airlift to Egypt delivers vital equipment to support aid crossing to Gaza
Oct. 20 2023
Source Page: PM meeting with President el-Sisi of Egypt: 20 October 2023Found: PM meeting with President el-Sisi of Egypt: 20 October 2023
Nov. 15 2023
Source Page: UK Development Minister arrives in Egypt in push for more critical lifesaving aid for GazaFound: UK Development Minister arrives in Egypt in push for more critical lifesaving aid for Gaza
Correspondence Apr. 23 2024
Committee: International Development Committee (Department: Department for International Development)Found: Correspondence to the Foreign Secretary relating to the Shortages of medical supplies in Egypt - 4 March
Asked by: Rachael Maskell (Labour (Co-op) - York Central)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, what recent discussions he has had with aid agencies on the Rafah crossing border with Egypt.
Answered by Andrew Mitchell - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Minister for Development)
The FCDO is actively engaging with international partners and those operating on the ground to do all we can to address the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. We are are working to get aid in as quickly as possible by land, sea and air, funding multiple implementing partners including UN agencies and international and UK NGOs.
There is ongoing ministerial engagement with partners. The Foreign Secretary has also appointed a Representative for Humanitarian Affairs in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, who is based in the region and is working intensively to address the blockages preventing more aid reaching Gaza.
The Foreign Secretary has discussed the urgency of getting significantly more aid into Gaza with Prime Minister Netanyahu. He reiterated the need for Israel to open more crossing points into Gaza, for Nitzana and Kerem Shalom to be open for longer, and for Israel to support the UN to distribute aid effectively across the whole of Gaza.
Nov. 01 2023
Source Page: PM call with President el-Sisi of Egypt: 1 November 2023Found: PM call with President el-Sisi of Egypt: 1 November 2023