Written question asked by Baroness Deech (Crossbench) on Monday, 14 September 2026, in the House of Lords. It was due for an answer on Monday, 28 September 2026. It was answered by Lord Wood of Anfield (Labour) on Friday, 2 October 2026 on behalf of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.

Palestine: Prisoners

Question: To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Chapman of Darlington on 31 October 2025 (HL10877), what assessment they have made of the statement by the Fatah spokesman in the Gaza Strip, Mundhir Al-Hayek, that the Palestinian Authority has not stopped paying salaries to prisoners and to the families of those killed while carrying out attacks against Israelis, and that these payments are being routed to recipients in Gaza through arrangements involving powers of attorney.

Answer: A reformed Palestinian Authority (PA) is essential to long-term stability in the region and progressing towards a two-state solution. We welcome the Palestinian Authority's commitment, underlined in the UK-PA Memorandum of Understanding, to reform prisoner payments so that welfare payments are based on needs and not linked to acts of violence. The audit has been completed. We await full publication of the audit so that this can be verified.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: HL3470
Session: 2026-27
Related items: Palestine: Prisoners
Friday, 31 October 2025
Written questions
House of Lords
Grouped for answer: Yes
Subjects: Payments Prisoners Israel Palestine
Link: View this Written question on www.parliament.uk