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Gaza

Volume 470: debated on Wednesday 23 January 2008

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Israeli government about its description of Gaza as a hostile entity in September 2007 and the resulting boycott on supplies to Palestinians in Gaza. (180744)

We have regularly made clear to the Government of Israel our concern about the situation in Gaza. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs has raised this issue with the Israeli Foreign Minister Livni. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for International Development discussed the situation in Gaza with the Israeli Defence Minister Ehud Barak during his recent visit to Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories from 9 to 11 December 2007.

Regarding supplies to Palestinians in Gaza, my right hon. Friends the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs and the Secretary of State for International Development made a statement on 11 January detailing our concerns.

The Quartet (US, EU, UN and Russia) has also expressed concern over the continued closure of major crossing points. The UN is actively involved in trying to find a solution. The EU has called “on all parties to work towards an opening of the crossings in and out of Gaza”.