Written questions by Mohamed.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what diplomatic steps he is taking to help protect the rights of Palestinian women and girls.

We are deeply alarmed by the disproportionate impact of the conflict on women and girls. The Foreign Secretary has raised and continues to raise our concerns around International Humanitarian Law compliance with the Israeli government. The UK is funding several trusted partners to support civilians in Gaza, including women and children. Assistance includes support to pregnant women, distribution of dignity kits for women and girls, mental health and psychosocial support, and water, sanitation, hygiene, nutrition and health services.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will hold discussions with his Israeli counterpart on protecting the rights of Palestinian women and girls.

We are deeply alarmed by the disproportionate impact of the conflict on women and girls. The Foreign Secretary has raised and continues to raise our concerns around International Humanitarian Law compliance with the Israeli government. The UK is funding several trusted partners to support civilians in Gaza, including women and children. Assistance includes support to pregnant women, distribution of dignity kits for women and girls, mental health and psychosocial support, and water, sanitation, hygiene, nutrition and health services.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if his Department will take steps to ensure that humanitarian aid sent to Gaza includes medical equipment for disabled people.

The UK government is closely monitoring the impact of the conflict in Gaza on access to medical facilities and healthcare, including for disabled people. Through our support to UK-Med, we are helping to run field hospitals in Gaza. On 16 October, I announced £1 million of UK assistance to support medically evacuated Palestinians in Egypt. Through the World Health Organisation, the funds will provide vital supplies and medications, including rehabilitative equipment, and will strengthen capacity to care for patients with chronic diseases. UK funding to UNICEF is also providing lifesaving healthcare and specialist treatment to families in Gaza. We continue to press Israeli leaders on aid access including medical supplies: On 18 October the Prime Minister underlined that the dire humanitarian situation cannot continue. Israel can and must do more to ensure aid reaches civilians in Gaza.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions he has had with his Israeli counterpart on the conference entitled Preparing to resettle Gaza, which took place in Israel on Monday 21 October 2024.

The Foreign Secretary has not yet discussed this conference with his Israeli counterpart. The UK's position on all settlements is clear; they are illegal under international law, present an obstacle to peace and threaten the physical viability of a two-state solution. The Government will challenge those who undermine the prospects of a two-state solution or use hateful rhetoric.We support a two-state solution that guarantees security and stability for both the Israeli and Palestinian people. We must give the people of the West Bank and Gaza the political horizon of a credible route to a Palestinian state and a new future, and it needs to be irreversible.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to ensure specialist doctors can enter Gaza.

UK funding is supporting humanitarian partners to reach those in desperate need of medical assistance: through our support to UK-Med we are helping to run field hospitals in Gaza; on 16 October I announced £1 million of UK assistance to support medically evacuated Palestinians in Egypt; and on 17 October we agreed to match up to £10 million of public donations to the Disasters Emergency Committee's Middle East humanitarian appeal.The UK Government is closely monitoring the impact of the conflict in Gaza on access to medical facilities and healthcare. As the Foreign Secretary said on 16 October, Israel can and must do more to ensure that humanitarian assistance can move freely and safely within Gaza - this includes medical workers.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has had discussions with his Israeli counterpart on reports of land grabs by settlers in northern Gaza.

This government is committed to upholding international law. The UK's position on all settlements is clear. They are illegal under international law, present an obstacle to peace and threaten the physical viability of a two-state solution. The Government will challenge those who undermine the prospects of a two-state solution or use hateful rhetoric. The UK also condemns inciteful remarks, such as those made by Israel's National Security Minister Ben-Gvir, which seek to inflame tensions and harm the viability of a two-state solution.Settlement expansion in the West Bank has reached record levels in the past year and has been accompanied by an increase in settler violence. During the Foreign Secretary's visit to Israel and the OPTs on 14-15 July, he met with Palestinians displaced in the West Bank and was horrified to hear of acts of violence carried out by settlers. The Foreign Secretary made the UK's position clear to those communities and to the Israeli government. Settlements are illegal under international law, present an obstacle to peace, and threaten the physical viability of a two-state solution. We will look at all options to take tougher action.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to help support disabled Palestinians to access (a) medicines and (b) other healthcare.

The UK government is closely monitoring the impact of the conflict in Gaza on access to medical facilities and healthcare, including for disabled people. Through our support to UK-Med, we are helping to run field hospitals in Gaza. On 16 October, I announced £1 million of UK assistance to support medically evacuated Palestinians in Egypt. Through the World Health Organisation, the funds will provide vital supplies and medications, including rehabilitative equipment, and will strengthen capacity to care for patients with chronic diseases. UK funding to UNICEF is also providing lifesaving healthcare and specialist treatment to families in Gaza. We continue to press Israeli leaders on aid access including medical supplies: On 18 October the Prime Minister underlined that the dire humanitarian situation cannot continue. Israel can and must do more to ensure aid reaches civilians in Gaza.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the implications for his policies of alleged reports of (a) sexual and (b) gender-based violence against Palestinian women and girls by Israeli Defence Forces.

We are deeply concerned by allegations of sexual and gender-based violence against Palestinians and the disproportionate impact of the conflict on women, children and vulnerable populations. The UK unequivocally condemns any alleged violations and abuses, including sexual violence, and calls for all reports to be fully investigated to ensure justice for victims and survivors. A member of the Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict Initiative (PSVI) Team of Experts will support with a gender-responsive and survivor-centred response to reports of sexual violence in both Israel and the OPTs. Following our decision to suspend some arms exports to Israel on 2 September, the Foreign Secretary has raised and continues to raise our concerns around International Humanitarian Law compliance with the Israeli government.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions he has had with his Israeli counterpart on evacuating disabled Palestinians so that they can receive treatment.

The plight of sick, injured and disabled people in Gaza is deeply distressing. We have pressed Israel at senior levels to urgently establish sustained, safe and timely passage for patients who need medical or surgical interventions not available in Gaza. Most recently, the Foreign Secretary's Representative for Humanitarian Affairs in the Occupied Palestinian Territories raised the issue of medical evacuations for injured Palestinians with the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs.The UK is supporting the provision of essential healthcare to Palestinian civilians, including through field hospitals operated by UK-Med in Gaza, and through WHO Egypt to support medically evacuated Palestinians.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will hold discussions with his Israeli counterpart on the potential merits of creating a medical corridor to enable disabled Palestinians in Northern Gaza to be treated in Southern Gaza.

The plight of sick, injured and disabled people in Gaza is deeply distressing. We have pressed Israel at senior levels to urgently establish sustained, safe and timely passage for patients who need medical or surgical interventions not available in Gaza. Most recently, the Foreign Secretary's Representative for Humanitarian Affairs in the Occupied Palestinian Territories raised the issue of medical evacuations for injured Palestinians with the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs.The UK is supporting the provision of essential healthcare to Palestinian civilians, including through field hospitals operated by UK-Med in Gaza, and through WHO Egypt to support medically evacuated Palestinians.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions he has had with his Israeli counterpart on creating a medical corridor to enable disabled Palestinians in Gaza to be treated in (a) East Jerusalem and (b) the Occupied West Bank.

As the Prime Minister said in his statement on 28 October, the humanitarian situation in Gaza is unacceptable. We remain gravely concerned about deteriorating health provision, particularly in northern Gaza. We have pressed Israel at senior levels to urgently establish sustained, safe and timely passage for patients who need medical or surgical interventions not available in Gaza. Most recently, the Foreign Secretary's Representative for Humanitarian Affairs in the Occupied Palestinian Territories raised the issue of medical evacuations for injured Palestinians with the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs. During my visit to Al Arish, Egypt on 16 October, where I announced £1 million of UK assistance for Egypt's support to medically evacuated Gazans, I saw that many tonnes of lifesaving aid continue to be denied entry into Gaza by Israel. The UK is supporting the provision of essential healthcare to Palestinian civilians, including through field hospitals operated by UK-Med in Gaza, and through support to the Egyptian health ministry to care for medically evacuated Palestinians.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with international counterparts to help secure a ceasefire in Gaza.

The UK is working in lockstep with our allies in seeking an end to the violence in the region. The Prime Minister has discussed the volatile situation in the region with His Majesty King Abdullah II, Prime Minister Netanyahu, President Macron and Chancellor Scholz. The Foreign Secretary has also spoken to his counterparts - including Israeli Foreign Minister Katz, US Secretary of State Blinken and French Foreign Minister Barrot. He has also spoken to Lebanon's Prime Minister and previously warned Iran against action that could further push the region to the brink.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he plans to issue further sanctions against groups and individuals for settler violence in the West Bank.

The UK's position on settlements is clear. They are illegal under international law, present an obstacle to peace and threaten the physical viability of a two-state solution.  To date, we have sanctioned eight individuals responsible for inciting and perpetrating human rights abuses against Palestinian communities in the West Bank.  We have also designated two groups known to have supported, incited and promoted violence against these communities.  We do not comment on future sanctions.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has made representations to his Saudi counterpart on the use of the death penalty by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

The UK opposes the death penalty in all circumstances as our joint statement on 10 October made clear; the Saudi authorities are well aware of our opposition. We will continue to raise human rights with the Saudi authorities through a range of diplomatic channels.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with his Israeli counterpart on tackling increases in levels of settler violence in the West Bank.

The UK's position on settlements is clear. They are illegal under international law, present an obstacle to peace and threaten the physical viability of a two-state solution.  To date, we have sanctioned eight individuals responsible for inciting and perpetrating human rights abuses against Palestinian communities in the West Bank.  We have also designated two groups known to have supported, incited and promoted violence against these communities.  We do not comment on future sanctions.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to help ensure that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia complies with international human rights obligations.

The UK opposes the death penalty in all circumstances as our joint statement on 10 October made clear; the Saudi authorities are well aware of our opposition. We will continue to raise human rights with the Saudi authorities through a range of diplomatic channels.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether his Department plans to increase the levels of aid it provides to Lebanon.

The UK is one of the largest donors to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affair's Lebanon Humanitarian Fund and the Central Emergency Response Fund. We have announced £10 million of aid to Lebanon, which includes essential medicine, hygiene kits, fuel for water stations and support for emergency teams. This is in addition to the £5 million already provided to the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund. UK bilateral humanitarian support for this financial year is up to £31 million. A first shipment of UK aid for people in need in Lebanon arrived in Beirut on 06 October.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, steps he is taking with international partners to help increase levels of aid entering into Gaza.

The UK Government is very concerned about the worsening humanitarian situation in Gaza, including the deteriorating access to northern Gaza.As set out in the Foreign Secretary's statement on 2 September, Israel could and must do more to ensure that humanitarian aid reaches civilians in Gaza. The Prime Minister reaffirmed the need for greater aid access in his statement to the UN General Assembly on 26 September. The Foreign Secretary, working with international partners, continues to press Israeli leaders to ensure aid can flow freely into and through Gaza.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he plans to make an assessment of Israel's compliance with international humanitarian law in the context of the conflict in Lebanon.

Following the 2 September suspension, there are currently no existing UK arms licences to Israel for use in Lebanon, apart from exempt F35 components, so there is no legal requirement to assess IHL compliance. This Government is clear that International Humanitarian Law must be upheld, and civilians protected. The UK's robust export licensing criteria state that the Government will not issue export licences if there is a clear risk that the items might be used to commit or facilitate serious violations of International Humanitarian Law. Exports to the F-35 programme are exempted from this suspension. This is due to the F-35 programme's broader strategic role in NATO and wider implications for international peace and security. This exemption should not in principle apply to licences for F-35 components which could be identified as going to Israel.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent assessment he has made of Israel's compliance with international humanitarian law in the context of the conflict in Gaza.

Following a review of Israel's compliance with International Humanitarian Law, we took decisive action on 2 September, suspending all the export licences that we assess might be used by the Israeli Defense Forces for military operations in Gaza: around 30 licences. The Prime Minister, Foreign Secretary, and I have raised issues of International Humanitarian Law compliance on several occasions with the Israeli government. With mounting civilian casualties and hundreds of thousands of displaced people, all parties must do everything possible to protect civilians and fully respect International Humanitarian Law. We continue to urge Israel to fulfil its promise to flood Gaza with aid, and to permit immediate and unfettered access for the International Committee of the Red Cross to detention centres. Ministers will continue to raise these issues due with urgency with the Israeli Government.