Written question asked by Baroness Janke (Liberal Democrat) on Tuesday, 18 July 2023, in the House of Lords. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 1 August 2023. It was answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon (Conservative) on Tuesday, 1 August 2023 on behalf of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.

Palestinians

Question: To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking, in partnership with the international community, to protect Palestinian civilians and healthcare personnel.

Answer: The work of healthcare workers across the globe is vital and they must be protected when carrying out their critical work. During his call on 4 July with the Israeli chargé d'affaires in London, the Minister of State for the Middle East, Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon, urged Israel to safeguard access to healthcare and take proactive steps to guarantee the safety of civilians during Israeli operations in the West Bank. When the Foreign Secretary spoke with Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen on July 5, he raised the UK's concerns about attacks on civilian infrastructure during their recent operation in Jenin.

Secondary information