MPs press for urgent action to halt famine in ‘hell on Earth’ Gaza

MINISTERS have been urged to act swiftly to prevent famine in Gaza, amid calls for a harder line with the Israelis from a Conservative former Minister.

Ex-cabinet minister Kit Malthouse urged the Government to “do something concrete to save these lives”, as Labour warned the Palestinian territory had become “hell on Earth”. Foreign Office minister David Rutley faced pressure from MPs to resume funding to UNRWA, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East.

The UK and other nations halted funding amid an investigation into allegations the agency’s workers colluded with militant group Hamas, though some have since restored their cashflow. Famine is looming in Gaza, with aid organisations and governments criticising bottlenecks at the Israeli border for restricting the flow of food support.

In a Commons urgent question dominated by opposition MPs, a small group of Tory MPs appealed to the Government to continue supporting UNRWA and press Israel into preventing civilian deaths.

Mr Malthouse said: “Over the last six months, we have heard the Government beg, plead, press, have telephone calls, meetings, have conversations, even the RAF in the sky to rightly defend Israel from Iran.

“Yet it is occurring to many of us that the Israeli government cares little for what we say, to the extent that Medical Aid for Palestinians report that a famine is all but inevitable over the next few weeks in Gaza. When are we going to realise that saying things is making no difference and we actually have to act, not least to take steps to enforce the judgment of the International Court of Justice? When will we actually do something concrete to save these lives?”

Meon Valley MP Flick Drummond meanwhile said access to the north of Gaza for humanitarian aid is “still dire”. She added: “UNRWA continues to be disproportionately affected by access restrictions and was last able to deliver food to northern Gaza at the end of January. Other countries, as we have heard, are restoring funding to UNRWA, including the United States, so why are we taking so long?”

Tory MP Nigel Mills (Amber Valley) said it was “inconceivable” that the money earmarked for UNRWA would not be given this year, adding: “Would he just confirm we are going to have to give them the money anyway, so we may as well get on with it?”