Team Blitz India
Our overriding priority is to ensure that aid gets to those who need it, which is why we are not just increasing our fnancial contributions to the region, but intensifying our diplomatic efforts with all parties to allow for safe access to aid for those people
Andrew western (stretford and Urmston) (lab)
WE must all recognise the responsibility of global leaders to ensure the protection of innocent Palestinian civilians. To that end, may I ask the Prime Minister what steps he is taking to be certain that independent observers are able to monitor fully the ongoing situation in Gaza, to ensure that there is no collective punishment of the innocent and that international law is upheld at all times?
rishi sunak (The prime minister )
Our overriding priority is to ensure that aid gets to those who need it, which is why we are not just increasing our fnancial contributions to the region, but intensifying our diplomatic eforts with all parties to allow for safe access to aid for those people, and to make sure, as I said, that the logistical eforts are put in place to ensure that aid can actually be delivered once it fnds its way to Egypt. none of those things is easy, but we are making progress on all three, and we continue to be committed to all of those things. I am confdent that things can keep getting better over time, in terms of both volume and scale.
clive efford (eltham) (lab)
Clearly, Israel is not going to have a ceasefre while it is still under attack, and it has every right to defend its citizens. However, the deaths in Palestine are increasing, and international concern about that is growing. Too few aid lorries are getting into the country, hostages are being held in Gaza, and we also need to ensure that we stop the deaths of innocent people in Gaza. Is the use of safe zones or humanitarian zones part of a solution that would allow the aid to get in and the hostages to be got out, and would save more lives?
The prime minister
I thank the hon. Gentleman for his question. When it comes to the release of hostages, those conversations are happening—as he can imagine—and we are diplomatically involved in applying as much pressure as we can for the unconditional and safe release of hostages. We saw welcome progress with the frst two hostages released, but there is clearly more to do.
With regard to aid, again, we are having those conversations about ensuring that aid can get across the Rafah crossing safely to those people who need it. That is why diplomatic engagement with all sides is important, and we will continue our eforts with the US and other allies in the region to make sure that happens.
Chris stephens (glasgow south west) (snp)
Has the Prime Minister considered calling on Israel to allow patients in a critical condition in Gaza to be medically evacuated for urgent care?
The prime minister
At this point, there are no people leaving Gaza the other way across the Rafah crossing. That includes the people whom the hon. Gentleman points to, but also British nationals. We continue to press for that, and will continue our diplomatic activity to ensure that those who need to come across can do so. As I said, we have pre-positioned Border Force operatives in Egypt, with the logistical support to ensure that once British nationals do get across the Rafah crossing into Egypt, we are able to collect them and bring them home safely. However, there is still dialogue to be had to make sure that can happen.
Sam Tarry (ilford south) (lab)
The Spanish Prime Minister, Pedro Sánchez, has now called for a humanitarian ceasefre, alongside Leo Varadkar, the Irish Taoiseach; Humza Yousaf, the Scottish First Minister; the Un Secretary-General; and the EU’s High Representative on Foreign Afairs. Will the Prime Minister urgently consider a humanitarian ceasefre on the basis of not just aid, but giving our diplomatic eforts the chance to free those hostages?
