Government Response

The Government responded to this petition on Tuesday 16th April 2024

We support Israel’s security, but it must comply with International Humanitarian Law. We need an immediate stop in fighting to get aid in and hostages out, then progress to a sustainable ceasefire.

Israel suffered the worst terror attack in its history at the hands of Hamas on 7th October 2023. We support Israel’s security, but it must comply with International Humanitarian law, as we have said from the outset.

Palestinian civilians are facing a devastating and growing humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

We want the fighting to stop now and are calling for an immediate pause to get aid in and hostages out, then progress towards a sustainable, permanent ceasefire, without a return to destruction, fighting and loss of life.

There must be a reduction in civilian casualties. All parties must act within International Humanitarian Law. We want to see Israel take greater care to limit its operations to military targets and avoid harming civilians and destroying homes.

The UK is playing a leadership role in alleviating the suffering in Gaza. We more than trebled our aid commitment in the 2023-24 financial year and we are doing everything we can to get more aid in as quickly as possible by land, sea and air.

On 20 March the Foreign Secretary also announced the UK has funded the World Food Programme to provide 2000 tons of food aid, enough to feed 275,000 people in Gaza. In addition, a field hospital, provided by UK Aid funding to UK-Med, has also arrived in Gaza; this facility, staffed by UK and local medics, is able to treat over 100 patients a day.

We have also set out very clearly the steps that Israel needs to take to increase capacity inside Gaza and fully enable the UN's minimal operating requirements, as well as to increase access for aid. We also need to see an expansion of the types of aid allowed into Gaza and the provision of electricity, water and telecommunications, to both the north and the south of Gaza.

The Foreign Secretary and Prime Minister have underlined the need for Israel to ensure effective deconfliction in Gaza, and to take all possible measures to ensure the safety of medical personnel and facilities.

The UK Government continues to use our range of diplomatic tools and bilateral dialogues with Israel to discuss issues of concern, including in relation to the Israel/Gaza conflict. Israel remains an important defence and security partner as well as an important trading partner to the UK.

As regards export licences, all export licence applications are assessed on a case-by-case basis against the Strategic Export Licensing Criteria.

Finally, we have moved to ban those responsible for violence in the West Bank from the UK. We have taken further steps to hold those to account who undermine the steps to peace in the West Bank, announcing new sanctions designations against four extremist Israeli settlers who have violently attacked Palestinians in the West Bank.

Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office