The humanitarian situation in northern Gaza is dire. The UK Labour Government condemns Israel’s severe restrictions on the delivery of humanitarian aid in the strongest terms. The scale of suffering is immense, and we have been unequivocal that this is a man-made crisis that Israel must immediately address.

The need for humanitarian assistance has never been greater. Reports indicate that nearly 46,000 people have been killed, with the entire population of Gaza now at risk of famine.

We continue to lead calls for an unfettered flow of aid into the region. There is no excuse for ongoing restrictions on humanitarian assistance.

Airstrikes within the designated humanitarian zones have left civilians with no safe spaces. Tragically, reports of children succumbing to cold weather conditions are a devastating reminder of the human toll of this crisis.

We are acutely aware of the unimaginable suffering endured by civilians in Gaza, especially women and children. For many in Palestine, there is no reprieve from this truly dreadful situation.

Medical facilities have been decimated, with many no longer operational or accessible to humanitarian actors. We are deeply concerned by reports of medics being injured or killed. We have raised these issues directly with Israel’s Deputy Foreign Minister and its ambassador to the UK.

Specific concerns include the detention of Kamal Adwan, Hospital director Dr. Hussam Abu Safiya and paediatrician Mohammed Hamouda, as well as other detained health workers. We have pressed Israel to urgently clarify their rationale for these detentions and to ensure the protection of medical personnel in Gaza.

The UK Labour Government is doing everything possible to alleviate suffering. This financial year, £112 million has been provided to the Occupied Palestinian Territories, including £41 million for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), which delivers vital services in Gaza, the West Bank, and across the broader region.

Additional support has been directed to essential healthcare in Gaza, including funding for UK-Med field hospitals and £1 million to the Egyptian Ministry of Health to aid Palestinians medically evacuated from Gaza.

We continue to urge the Israeli government not to implement its Knesset Bills on UNRWA which passed last year. This implementation of this legislation into practice risks making UNRWA‘s essential work for Palestinians impossible, jeopardising the entire international humanitarian response in Gaza and the delivery of critical health and education services in the West Bank.

The Foreign Secretary, David Lammy, alongside his French and German counterparts, has urged the Israeli government to prepare adequately for the harsh winter months. Make no mistake: together with international partners, we are applying constant pressure to ensure northern Gaza remains connected to the south, that no forced transfers of Gazans occur, and that the territorial integrity of Gaza is preserved.

We remain clear: we need an immediate ceasefire, the release of hostages, unfettered access for humanitarian aid, and robust protections for civilians. Humanitarian principles and international law must guide the global response to this crisis.

Our commitment to a two-state solution remains unwavering. A sovereign Palestinian state must coexist alongside a secure and peaceful Israel, with both nations respecting human rights and international law. This remains the only path to lasting peace and security for both Israelis and Palestinians.

The UK Labour Government will continue to act in accordance with international humanitarian law and to push for meaningful diplomatic solutions. This is a time for focused action, not rhetoric, to alleviate suffering and work towards a just and enduring peace.