I am deeply saddened by the devastating Israeli airstrikes in Gaza. The loss of life is both unacceptable and heart-breaking. Innocent Palestinians, including many women and children, continue to lose their lives. It must not continue. We need a ceasefire now.
The Foreign Secretary stated in the chamber earlier this week- ‘Every day I am striving to stop the killing in Gaza, so we can get the remaining hostages home and aid to civilians.’ The government will take more and more action until we see the change that we need.
With our allies, we are calling on the Government of Israel to lift the block on aid entering Gaza now. The Minister for Middle East visited the Gaza-Egypt border to see the aid restrictions for himself.
Earlier this week, alongside partners, the government called an emergency meeting of the Security Council. We will continue to use our role in the Security Council, the G7 and work with France and Germany, to put further pressure on Israel to change course.
The Prime Minister and Foreign secretary recently met the Palestinian Prime Minister. They agreed that the UK would continue to work closely with the Palestinian Authority.
I know the government is having discussions in public and in private, and will continue to do so. We will keep demanding protection for all civilians and aid workers in Gaza, and will strive to restore the ceasefire, free hostages and end the war.
Statement from the Minister for the Middle East
Yesterday, alongside partners, the UK convened a meeting of the UN Security Council in response to the intolerable civilian suffering and humanitarian need in Gaza. As I told the House yesterday, Israel’s denial of aid is appalling. Tonnes of food are currently sitting rotting at the Gaza-Israel border, blocked from reaching people who are starving. Israeli Ministers have said that Israel’s decision to block this aid is a pressure lever. This is cruel and indefensible. Overnight, yet more Palestinians have been killed in Israeli strikes. This must end.
The message yesterday was clear: the world demands that Israel stops and changes course immediately. With our allies, we are telling the Government of Israel to lift the block on aid entering Gaza now, and enable the UN and all humanitarians to save lives now. We need an immediate ceasefire now. Humanitarian aid must never be used as a political tool or military tactic, and the UK will not support any aid mechanism that seeks to deliver political or military objectives or that puts vulnerable civilians at risk.
The International Court of Justice case on genocide is ongoing. We support the ICJ. We support its independence. The ICJ issued a set of provisional measures in this case and we support those measures. Israel has an obligation to implement them. It is the UK Government’s long-standing position that any formal determination as to whether genocide has occurred is a matter for a competent court, not for Governments or non-judicial bodies. The UK is fully committed to upholding our responsibilities under domestic and international law, and we have at all times acted in a manner consistent with our legal obligations, including under the genocide convention.
The devastation from this conflict must end. Our complete focus is on lifting Israeli restrictions on aid, on freeing the hostages, on protecting civilians and on restoring the ceasefire. We will work urgently with our allies and partners on further pressure to make Israel change course.
Taken from Hansard – Gaza UK Assessment, Volume 767: debated on Wednesday 14 May 2025