Humanitarian situation in Gaza

International Development Committee Closed Inquiry
Opened: 6 Nov 2023 Closed: 23 May 2024 Parliament page
Report and Government response published Since the Hamas terrorist atrocities of 7 October 2023, the International Development Committee has held three urgent evidence hearings in Parliament, and Members of the Committee recently returned from the aid logistics centre and hospital at Al-Arish in North Sinai where some badly injured Palestinian … Read more
11 Recommendations
14 Conclusions
1 Report
3 Oral sessions
10 Letters
3 Events
Activity timeline 18 events
8 May
2024
Report published
29 Apr
2024
Correspondence
29 Apr
2024
Correspondence
23 Apr
2024
Correspondence
23 Apr
2024
Correspondence
12 Mar
2024
Correspondence
12 Mar
2024
Correspondence
1 Mar
2024
Report published
27 Feb
2024
Oral evidence
27 Feb
2024
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · Room 15, Palace of Westminster
21 Feb
2024
Correspondence
17 Jan
2024
Correspondence
Oral evidence sessions 3 sessions
27 Feb 2024
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Humanitarian situation in Gaza
Dr Richard Brennan · World Health Organisation (WHO) Matthew Hollingworth · World Food Programme
9 Jan 2024
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Humanitarian situation in Gaza
Dr Ghada Al Jadba · United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) Nebal Farsakh · Palestinian Red Crescent Society Rohan Talbot · Medical Aid for Palestinians
14 Nov 2023
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Humanitarian situation in Gaza
Melanie Ward · Medical Aid for Palestinians Sam Rose · United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) Shaina Low · Norwegian Refugee Council Yasmine Ahmed · Human Rights Watch
Title HC No. Published Items Response
Second Report - Humanitarian situation in Gaza HC 110 1 Mar 2024 25 Responded
Recommendations & Conclusions
9 results
Clear
2 Conclusion Acknowledged
Second Report - Humanitarian situa…
Advocate for opening all Gaza land crossings and extending operating hours for aid access.
The UK Government must call for all existing land crossings to be opened and for opening hours extended. This would speed up aid getting through the border and allow access to other areas of Gaza, particularly in the north. Ultimately, … Read more
Government Response
The government outlines its diplomatic efforts, including calls for deconfliction and protection of aid workers, especially following the WCK killings. While highlighting the urgent need for more aid access and for Israel to do more, it does not explicitly commit to the specific recommendation of calling for all existing land crossings to be opened and their hours extended.
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4 Conclusion Acknowledged
Second Report - Humanitarian situa…
Widespread destruction and poor infrastructure severely limit humanitarian aid operations in Gaza.
NGOs and UN organisations have explained how their operations are severely limited by the scale of destruction in Gaza. The infrastructure is poor and some roads are impassable - and the desperation of the inhabitants means journeys present many challenges … Read more
Government Response
The government agrees commercial supplies are crucial and has raised this with Israeli authorities. It continues to work with partners on proposals to increase commercial truck access and UKAID programming is ready to support these increased supplies.
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11 Conclusion Acknowledged
Second Report - Humanitarian situa…
Support Gazans in rebuilding their internal food market as part of future UK aid plans.
Gazans also need to be supported to rebuild their own internal food market, from growing fruit and vegetables to raising livestock - all of which occurred before this crisis. The UK must build this into any future plans for its … Read more
Government Response
The government agrees the international community must consider recovery and reconstruction, but makes no specific commitment to supporting the rebuilding of Gaza's internal food market or integrating this into UK future plans.
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13 Conclusion Acknowledged
Second Report - Humanitarian situa…
Lasting ceasefire essential to prevent further escalation of humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza.
While the comments above will mitigate some of the worst horrors of the situation, the Committee is clear that unless there is a lasting ceasefire, this catastrophe will continue to escalate. According to those we spoke to, anything less than … Read more
Government Response
The Government says they continue to coordinate with like-minded international partners on plans for a sustained ceasefire and support for reconstruction of Gaza, after the current conflict has ended.
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14 Recommendation Acknowledged
Second Report - Humanitarian situa…
Adopt a comprehensive three-pillar approach addressing political, security, and humanitarian aspects of the crisis.
There needs to be a three-pillar approach to this crisis and its lasting resolution – covering political, security and humanitarian. All three are essential and cannot be seen in isolation, and whilst it is not the remit of this Committee … Read more
Government Response
The government states that they continue to coordinate with international partners on plans for a sustained ceasefire and support for reconstruction of Gaza.
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16 Recommendation Acknowledged
Second Report - Humanitarian situa…
Require all international partners to recognise and plan for long-term support for Gaza's IDPs.
The internally displaced people (IDPs) in Gaza will not be able to go home when the fighting ends. Most do not have a home or livelihood to go to and children will have missed months of education. This means that … Read more
Government Response
The government states that they continue to coordinate with international partners on plans for a sustained ceasefire and support for reconstruction of Gaza.
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22 Conclusion Acknowledged
Second Report - Humanitarian situa…
UNRWA remains essential for Gaza's immediate support, long-term reform requires future planning.
UNRWA is the only functioning organisation in parts of Gaza and the people of Gaza need its support. Whether it needs to be reformed to support long-term regeneration in Gaza is an important question but is one for the future planning.
Government Response
The government acknowledges UNRWA's vital role in Gaza and that it provides important distribution capacity. However, it notes that future funding to UNRWA is currently paused due to allegations, pending consideration of independent investigation reports and UNRWA's response.
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23 Recommendation Acknowledged
Second Report - Humanitarian situa…
Insist Israel complies with international humanitarian law, holding them accountable with partners.
It is not within this Committee’s remit to consider International Law but, in every conversation, it was raised with us and the arguments made were compelling that breaches of international law are taking place. The UK Government must insist that … Read more
Government Response
The government partially agrees, stating it has been clear with Israel that it must uphold international humanitarian law and that it regularly assesses Israel's commitment. It does not, however, commit to new specific actions to 'insist' or 'work with international partners to hold Israel to account' beyond its current approach.
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25 Recommendation Acknowledged
Second Report - Humanitarian situa…
Press for contemporaneous evidence gathering for future investigations into international law compliance.
And the UK Government must press for evidence to be gathered contemporaneously so that thorough investigations about compliance with international law on both sides can take place after the fighting stops. (Paragraph 80) 22 Humanitarian situation in Gaza Read more
Government Response
The government partially agrees, reiterating its stance that all parties must uphold international humanitarian law (IHL) and that it regularly assesses Israel's commitment. However, it does not specifically commit to pressing for contemporaneous evidence gathering for future investigations.
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Government Response AI assessment · 25 of 11 classified
Accepted 5
Accepted in Part 2
Acknowledged 9
Deferred 9
Total 11 recs + 14 conclusions
Correspondence 10 letters
29 Apr 2024 Correspondence to the Foreign Secretary relating to Funding for UNRWA - 25 April 2024
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29 Apr 2024 Correspondence from the Foreign Secretary relating to Funding for UNRWA - 29 April 2024
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23 Apr 2024 Correspondence from the Foreign Secretary relating to the Shortages of medical supplies in Egypt - 26 March 2024
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23 Apr 2024 Correspondence to the Foreign Secretary relating to the Shortages of medical supplies in Egypt - 4 March 2024
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12 Mar 2024 Correspondence to the Foreign Secretary regarding the protection of humanitarian personnel in Gaza - 1 February 2024
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12 Mar 2024 Correspondence from the Foreign Secretary regarding the protection of humanitarian personnel in Gaza - 26 February 2024
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21 Feb 2024 Correspondence from the Foreign Secretary regarding the Healthcare situation in Gaza - 31 January 2024
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17 Jan 2024 Correspondence to the Foreign Secretary regarding the Healthcare situation in Gaza - 17 January 2024
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5 Dec 2023 Correspondence from the Foreign Secretary regarding the humanitarian situation in Gaza - 5 December 2023
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16 Nov 2023 Correspondence to the Foreign Secretary regarding the humanitarian situation in Gaza - 16 November 2023
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