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Gaza

For peace to be sustainable, a durable solution needs to be found for Gaza.

Restrictions on Gaza

We remain concerned by the situation in Gaza. Aid dependency and unemployment remain high and construction of schools is still held up.

We are urging Israel to concretely address these issues. Minister for the Middle East, Alistair Burt raised Gaza during his recent visit to Israel and made clear our expectations on the need for full implementation of their measures to ease restrictions on Gaza.

We want to see a revitalised economy in Gaza through increased volumes of exports and greater movement of people in and out of Gaza. There is also an urgent need to allow reconstruction goods into Gaza so important projects can go ahead and to improve co-operation with the UN and NGOs.
 
There has been some welcome progress in easing restrictions. For example, the move from a white to a black list and the increased volume of imports showed that it is possible to ease restrictions on Gaza whilst safeguarding the security of ordinary Israelis.

The recent Israeli measures to facilitate exports out of Gaza are also welcome but they need to be swiftly implemented. A fundamental change is needed to achieve pre-2007 levels of exports as soon as possible. This means action on the ground. 

We are ready to help and are co-ordinating closely with EU Representative Baroness Ashton on her package of proposals for Gaza i.e. expanding the infrastructure at Kerem Shalom, providing security equipment to facilitate exports; and expanding the role of EUPOL COPPS to provide border and crossings management training for the Palestinian Authority.

The Palestinian economy, whether in Gaza or the West Bank, is an essential part of a viable Palestinian state which the UK hopes will one day live alongside Israel in peace and security. At the same time the UK deplores the continuing acts of rocket fire from Gaza.  As the EU concluded on 14 June, all those responsible must take immediate and concrete steps to cease and prevent such violence.

Aid to Gaza

We are also doing what we can to offer practical support to the people of Gaza. Following the end of the Gaza conflict in 2009, the UK pledged £26.8m to the people of Gaza for humanitarian aid and early recovery activities, of which over £24 million has already been spent, providing, for example, food for nearly one million people.