Asked by: Lord Bishop of Southwark (Bishops - Bishops)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what representations they have made to the government of Israel following the demolition of the headquarters of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine in East Jerusalem.
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)
I refer the Lord Bishop to the joint statement issued by the Foreign Secretary and a number of her overseas counterparts on 28 January, which - for ease of reference - is reproduced below:
We the Foreign Ministers of Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Iceland, Ireland, Japan, Norway, Portugal, Spain and the United Kingdom strongly condemn the demolitions by the Israeli authorities of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) headquarters in East Jerusalem, on 20 January 2026.
This unprecedented act against a United Nations agency by a UN Member State marks the latest unacceptable move to undermine their ability to operate. We urge the Government of Israel to abide by its international obligations to ensure the protection and inviolability of United Nations premises in accordance with the provisions of the UN General Convention (1946) and the Charter. We call upon the Government of Israel, a member of the United Nations, to halt all demolitions.
We reiterate our full support for UNRWA's indispensable mission to provide essential services and humanitarian assistance to Palestinians in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, including East Jerusalem. We welcome UNRWA's commitment to reform and implementation of the recommendations of the Colonna Report to ensure they meet the highest standards on neutrality and integrity. UNRWA is a service provider delivering healthcare and education to millions of Palestinians across the region, particularly in Gaza, and must be able to operate without restrictions. We reiterate our deep concern regarding the application by the Government of Israel of legislation, adopted by the Knesset in October 2024 and strengthened in December 2025, forbidding any contact between Israeli state entities and officials and UNRWA, prohibiting and de facto preventing any UNRWA presence within Israel and in Jerusalem including the supply of electricity, water and gas to properties registered under UNRWA.
Israel agreed to President Trump's 20-Point Plan, which committed to the entry and distribution of aid into Gaza, led by the UN and Red Crescent and without interference. We call on the Government of Israel to fully abide by its obligations to facilitate the delivery of humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip in accordance with international law. Despite the increase in aid entering Gaza, conditions remain dire and supply is inadequate for the needs of the population. Therefore, we call on the Government of Israel to take the following urgent and essential steps:
- Allow the expanded, safe and unimpeded delivery of humanitarian aid and services throughout the whole of Gaza and the West Bank in accordance with international humanitarian law.
- Ensure that international NGOs are able to operate in Gaza, including by lifting restrictive registration requirements.
- The reopening of all crossing points, including the announced plans to re-open the Rafah crossing in both directions.
- And lift persistent restrictions on humanitarian goods' imports, including items considered to have a "dual use" that are essential to humanitarian and early recovery operations.
Asked by: Lord Bishop of Norwich (Bishops - Bishops)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the use of charitable funds originating from the UK being used to support and maintain illegal settlements in Palestine; and whether they will undertake a review of this practice.
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)
Israeli settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem are illegal under international law and harm prospects for a two-state solution. The Government and the Charity Commission expect charities in the UK to act lawfully, in line with their charitable purposes and for the public benefit. Any concerns about charities engaging in inappropriate or unlawful activity should be referred to the Charity Commission.
Asked by: Grahame Morris (Labour - Easington)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether her Department has made an assessment of the value for money of the International Fund for Israeli-Palestinian Peace.
Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The conference which will support the establishment of an International Peace Fund for Israel and Palestine is not scheduled to take place until 12 March, but I can assure the Hon Member that we will assess the impact of our support for that fund in the usual way in due course.
Asked by: Grahame Morris (Labour - Easington)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether the Department for International Development commissioned a study on the value for money of people to people programmes in Israel and Palestine in 2021.
Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
Value for money is embedded across all of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office's work. We employ robust systems and frameworks, and constantly review our programmes, to ensure we achieve high standards of value for money and use UK taxpayers' money responsibly. We work with partners across the world to maximise impact and improve value for money. This includes leveraging both public and private finance to support our development objectives to deliver economies of scale and world class expertise to make UK taxpayers' money go further.
Asked by: Jayne Kirkham (Labour (Co-op) - Truro and Falmouth)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps she is taking with international partners to support the reconstruction of Gaza.
Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
I refer the Hon Member to the second half of the answer provided on 26 January in response to Question HL13572 which, for ease of reference, is copied below:
The UK is providing £81 million for humanitarian and early recovery support for Palestine this financial year. Last month, supplies of UK-funded tents entered Gaza, providing urgent shelter for 12,000 vulnerable civilians, and we will continue to push for the entry of further UK-funded aid, including tents and shelter kits, which have so far been unable to reach those in need. On 30 December 2025, the Foreign Secretary issued a joint statement alongside a number of international partners calling on the Government of Israel to remove restrictions hindering the delivery of essential humanitarian aid.
The UK is supporting the US-led plan for Gaza's post-conflict stability, as well as exploring the mobilisation of private-sector finance to support Palestinian-led reconstruction of Gaza. We have also deployed UK civilian and military experts to support the Civil-Military Coordination Centre that aims to coordinate reconstruction efforts in Gaza. In addition, the UK has announced £4 million of funding for the United Nations Mine Action Service to help clear rubble, protect civilians and aid workers, and enable the safe delivery of aid. In total, the UK is providing £116 million for Palestine this financial year for humanitarian aid, support for Palestinian economic development, and strengthening Palestinian Authority governance and reform.
Asked by: Lord Bishop of Southwark (Bishops - Bishops)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with the government of Israel about the killing of three Palestinian journalists by a targeted strike on a vehicle on 21 January.
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)
Local journalists in Gaza have done an extraordinary job reporting on the conflict in Gaza, often while they and their families are in danger, displaced and suffering from shortages of food, fuel and other basics. We call on Israeli authorities to ensure that media workers can conduct their work freely and safely. Civilian reporters covering conflicts must be afforded protection under international humanitarian law.
Asked by: Lord Bishop of Gloucester (Bishops - Bishops)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to include religious leaders and faith based civil society groups from Israel and Palestine that are committed to peace building and reconciliation in the conference at Lancaster House on 12 March regarding the establishment of an international peace fund for Israel and Palestine.
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)
We will announce further details in the near future of the 12 March conference to help establish an International Peace Fund for Israel and Palestine.
Asked by: Lord Bishop of Gloucester (Bishops - Bishops)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to consult with Palestinian civil society and Israeli human rights groups ahead of the peace building conference at Lancaster House on 12 March.
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)
We will announce further details in the near future of the 12 March conference to help establish an International Peace Fund for Israel and Palestine.
Asked by: Steve Witherden (Labour - Montgomeryshire and Glyndwr)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to help ensure adequate security provision for the Palestinian Embassy in London.
Answered by Dan Jarvis - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)
The Government takes the protective security of diplomatic missions extremely seriously.
The UK’s protective security system is rigorous and proportionate, but it would not be appropriate to comment in detail on those arrangements.
Asked by: Luke Akehurst (Labour - North Durham)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the answer to Question 104985, whether the Government is aware of which independent audit firm the Palestinian Authority has contracted to complete the review of curriculum reform.
Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
I currently have nothing further to add to the previous answer to which the Hon Member refers in his question. As and when there is further information to report on this matter, I will update him and other Members accordingly.