Gaza

House of Lords written question – answered at on 18 October 2010.

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Photo of Lord Hylton Lord Hylton Crossbench

To ask Her Majesty's Government how they plan to help restore the imports and exports of Gaza to their pre-May 2007 levels.

Photo of Baroness Verma Baroness Verma Lords Spokesperson (Home Office) (Equalities and Women's Issues), Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip), Lords Spokesperson (Department for International Development)

The UK is working with other members of the international community with the objective of securing full access for aid, aid workers, reconstruction materials and other permitted imports to Gaza, and relaxation of restrictions on exports and the movement of people.

We have worked closely with key international partners including the United Nations (UN) and Office of the Quartet Representative (OQR) in pressing for full implementation of the measures to relax movement and access announced by Israel on 20 June, including through the provision of practical support to the OQR and the UN. Our funding to the UN Access Co-ordination Unit, which works with the Government of Israel, the Palestinian Authority (PA) and aid agencies, is helping to facilitate the transfer of goods into Gaza. We have also been working with the PA to address vital issues related to its role in co-ordination of crossing points and entry of goods into Gaza.

More widely, we have encouraged international partners, including the OQR, UN and World Bank, to develop robust reporting and analysis of the situation in Gaza, along with a comprehensive plan for the revival of Gaza's legal economy. We have raised directly with the Israeli Government on a number of occasions the need to allow exports from Gaza and the free movement of people.

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