Source · Select Committees · International Development Committee
Recommendation 2
2
Acknowledged
Paragraph: 16
Advocate for opening all Gaza land crossings and extending operating hours for aid access.
Conclusion
The UK Government must call for all existing land crossings to be opened and for opening hours extended. This would speed up aid getting through the border and allow access to other areas of Gaza, particularly in the north. Ultimately, this is the only way to avoid famine. Pressure must be put on Israel to speed up the progress of aid through checkpoints and border crossings.
Government Response Summary
The government outlines its diplomatic efforts, including calls for deconfliction and protection of aid workers, especially following the WCK killings. While highlighting the urgent need for more aid access and for Israel to do more, it does not explicitly commit to the specific recommendation of calling for all existing land crossings to be opened and their hours extended.
Paragraph Reference:
16
Government Response
Acknowledged
HM Government
Acknowledged
15. 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. 16. The killing of seven World Central Kitchen (WCK) personnel on 1 April only intensified our concerns about the humanitarian situation, protection of aid workers and issues of targeting and deconfliction. We need to see a fundamental change on the ground. 17. As the Foreign Secretary has said, we are carefully reviewing the initial findings of Israel’s investigations into the killing of WCK aid workers and welcome the suspension of two officers as a first step. These findings must be published in full and followed up with a wholly independent review to ensure the utmost transparency and accountability. Their inquiry so far has highlighted the inadequate processes and the unacceptable conduct of the IDF personnel involved. This must never happen again. 18. Aid workers should never be targeted. Over two hundred aid workers have been killed in this conflict to date, more than any in one year in any other conflict globally. Israel must do much more to protect them and to ensure their safety so they can deliver urgently needed lifesaving humanitarian assistance. 19. The Foreign Secretary has been clear that guaranteed deconfliction for aid convoys and other humanitarian work is essential. Conclusion/