Minister Stephen Doughty of the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office told the House of Commons on Thursday that the United Kingdom is releasing a further £5 million to UNICEF, the UN children’s agency, for the winter response in Gaza. He also called on Israeli authorities to let more aid into the territory.
Doughty said heavy rain and strong winds last weekend worsened conditions for Palestinian civilians as Gaza enters its fourth winter of conflict. He cited humanitarian partners on the ground as saying more than 152,000 people were affected. Over 6,000 shelters were destroyed, 17,400 were damaged and nearly 4,000 households were left without shelter, he said. Three children and their mother died after a sand embankment gave way on their tents.
Doughty said civilian deaths continue, with more than 1,600 killed since the “so-called ceasefire” alone. He said restrictions on supplies and machinery have hampered preparations for winter. Citing the UN, he said more than 150,000 tents and 300,000 tarpaulins bought by aid partners and donors are outside Gaza, and Israeli authorities have prevented them from entering. He said Israel also continues to block timber, leaving no emergency shelter kits in Gaza.
Doughty’s message to Israeli authorities was “let the aid in.” He asked Israel to open crossing points, starting with Erez in northern Gaza. He also asked it to allow additional days for dual-use items, which can have civilian and military uses, and to shorten the list of such items. He further asked for access for journalists, diplomats and Foreign Ministers. He said Israel, as the occupying power, has strict legal obligations.
Doughty said he was shocked by reports overnight that an Israeli airstrike on Nasser Hospital in southern Gaza killed at least six people. He also said the flow of aid has been disrupted in recent weeks. Commercial deliveries were briefly suspended in September after reports of Hamas taxation, he said. On Nov. 3, Israeli authorities shut the Egypt corridor for six days because of smuggling allegations.
On funding, Doughty said the UK gave UNICEF £14 million earlier this year. The new £5 million comes from the UK’s bilateral budget and focuses on the winter response, including the impact of the flooding. He said the support aims to supply 100,000 children with winter clothing, 62,500 people with tarpaulins, 1,250 households with family tents and 150,000 people with blankets. He said the UK’s £88 million in humanitarian funding this financial year is expected to provide healthcare for up to 900,000 people, among other support.
Doughty said the UK is working with partners to press for the restrictions to be lifted. He said the UK would bring international partners together again in New York on Thursday.
On sanctions, Doughty said the UK has moved to expand its GHR sanctions regime to cover serious violations of international humanitarian law, including obstructing aid. He said the UK is prepared to use these powers against those who continue to block aid into Gaza and other conflict zones. He said the UK does not comment on future designations. He also said work continues on a separate regime, announced in September, targeting illegal settlement activity in Gaza and the West Bank.
Doughty said the UK recognises Israel’s legitimate security concerns and condemns Hamas’s Oct. 7 attack. He said the UK remains committed to UN Resolution 2803 and the 20-Point Peace Plan, and that Hamas must give up its weapons and control of Gaza.
He also addressed Yemen. Doughty said the Houthis’ decision to resume conflict has worsened conditions there. More than 330,000 people have left their homes since August, and civilian casualties exceed 1,000, he said. The UK is giving £104 million in humanitarian aid to Yemen, which includes £10 million announced recently for the UN’s emergency fund.