Recommendation 11

HM Government Acknowledged

33. We agree that the international community must consider recovery and reconstruction now. We are working closely with a wide range of stakeholders, including potential donors and multilateral institutions. But we are not at this stage ready to commit to the UK hosting an international conference. Conclusions/Recommendations 12 and 13 This Committee understands that the UK Government wants to see UNRWA improve its governance and then return to receiving funding for its work in Gaza. The UK Government must push for this to happen quickly, both so that UK funding continues but also that international partners are persuaded to restart their funding as well, otherwise the consequences for public services will be catastrophic, both in the Gaza Strip and in the other areas where UNRWA works, including the West Bank and refugee camps in the region. UNRWA is the only functioning organisation in parts of Gaza and the people of Gaza need its support. Whether it needs to be reformed to support long-term regeneration in Gaza is an important question but is one for the future planning. Agree 34. Allegations that UNRWA staff were involved in the 7 October attack against Israel are appalling, which is why the UK took decisive action to pause future funding to UNRWA in line with the United States, Canada, Australia, the EU, Germany, Italy, Switzerland and the Netherlands. 35. The UN launched two independent investigations, one by the UN Office for Internal Oversight Services into the specific allegations, and one led by Catherine Colonna, to review UNRWA’s neutrality procedures and policies. 36. The UN OIOS has completed an interim report of its investigation into the incident, and Catherine Colonna has published her final report into the neutrality of UNRWA. The report made fifty recommendations in eight different areas for improvements. The UN Secretary General welcomed the report and accepted the recommendations. UNRWA Commissioner General Lazzarini accepted the recommendations and committed to implement them in full. 37. The UK recognises that UNRWA has a vital role to play in providing aid and services in Gaza and the region. We recognise the operational and logistical role UNRWA plays on the ground and that it provides important distribution capacity for other agencies. 38. We remain committed to getting humanitarian aid to the people in Gaza who desperately need it, including through other UN agencies and British charities. Our decision to pause future funding to UNRWA has had no impact on the UK’s contribution to the humanitarian response. 39. We will set out our position on future funding to UNRWA following careful consideration of the final report, UNRWA’s response and the ongoing OIOS investigation into the allegations. Conclusions/Recommendation 14 and 16 It is not within this Committee’s remit to consider International Law but, in every conversation, it was raised with us and the arguments made were compelling that breaches of international law are taking place. The UK Government must insist that Israel complies with its obligations under international humanitarian law. It must work with international partners to hold Israel to account in this. The UK Government must press for evidence to be gathered contemporaneously so that thorough investigations about compliance with international law on both sides can take place after the fighting stops. Partially Agree 40. We were appalled by the barbaric terrorist acts by Hamas against Israel and international citizens on 7 October. 41. IHL binds state and non-state actors participating in an armed conflict. As a party to the conflict, Hamas is obliged to comply with international humanitarian law. 42. Ministers have been clear with Israel that we support its right to self-defence, but that it must uphold international humanitarian law. 43. Too many civilians have been killed. Israel should take care to limit operations to military targets and to minimise harm to civilians and civilian objects. Israel should also ensure effective deconfliction and take all possible measures to ensure the safety of medical personnel and facilities. 44. The FCDO regularly assesses Israel’s capability and commitment to international humanitarian law (IHL) to determine whether there is a ‘clear risk’ that exported items might be used to commit or facilitate a serious violation of IHL. 45. While we have grave concerns around humanitarian access, this is not sufficient to undermine our judgement that Israel is committed to comply with IHL in general. Conclusion/