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Israel and Palestine: Gaza

Volume 703: debated on Tuesday 22 July 2008

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What steps they will take to ensure that the level of supplies of food, fuel and humanitarian goods entering Gaza is restored to that specified in the agreement on movement and access, notwithstanding minor breaches of the ceasefire. [HL4578]

The 15 November 2005 Agreement on Movement and Access (AMA) does not specify levels of supplies to Gaza. The UK continues to call on both parties to implement the AMA and has repeatedly raised its concerns about the continued restrictions on access to Gaza with the Israeli Government, in public and in private. Most recently, we and other EU member states expressed concerns about access restrictions faced by the UN in providing assistance to Palestinian refugees in a letter from the European Union presidency and the European Commission to the Israeli authorities on 27 June. More tangibly, the UK will also support a UN access team to help get humanitarian supplies and personnel through crossings and checkpoints.

Moves towards a ceasefire in Gaza are very welcome. The ceasefire is an important first step to improve the daily lives of ordinary people on both sides. We hope that the militant groups will fulfil their commitment to cease attacks on Israel, and that Israel will ease restrictions on Gaza in line with its own commitments, ensuring that humanitarian aid and supplies can get through. We need to build on the opportunity that the ceasefire represents by working towards the reopening of the crossings between Israel and Gaza, under the control of the Palestinian Authority.