Jane Hutt MS, Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, Trefnydd and Chief Whip
Since October 2023, following the attacks by Hamas, Israel has imposed sustained blockades on Gaza.
Initially, Israel’s blockades cut off all food, water, medicine, fuel and electricity before restrictions were partially eased to allow limited aid to enter Gaza. Despite some humanitarian access, Israel continued to impose severe restrictions throughout 2024 and eased restrictions further during the short-lived ceasefire earlier this year. However, following the breakdown of the ceasefire, a complete ban on humanitarian aid supplies entering Gaza was reinstated in March 2025.
The blockade has created famine conditions exacerbated by airstrikes on food infrastructure, with aid organisations reporting that markets are empty and children are malnourished. Israel has conditioned lifting the blockade on the return of hostages taken by Hamas. Children in Gaza need aid desperately today. The lack of humanitarian aid reaching children in Gaza is unacceptable to the ʶ Government, which is why we donated a total of £200,000 to the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) appeal and are in discussions about how that donation can best be used.
Without any deliveries of external supplies, DEC charities are now working with local partners to rely, wherever possible, on the limited goods that are available from local markets and provide vital cash assistance and psychological support. Their medical staff are also supporting as many people as they can, even with medicine supplies running critically low.
Their job will only become harder in the days and weeks ahead without access to more aid. This is already the longest period that aid has not been allowed into Gaza since the conflict escalated in October 2023. The UN has described it as “the worst humanitarian situation” since the crisis began.
The ʶcontinues to call for a lift on the aid blockade in Gaza. We have said that humanitarian aid should never be used as a political tool and join the UK Government in calling for Israel to respect international law and allow the unhindered flow of aid into Gaza. The ʶalso urges all parties to re-engage in ceasefire negotiations to get the hostages out and to secure a permanent end to the conflict, leading to a two-state solution and a lasting peace which will end the suffering of those most affected by this conflict. As we have said repeatedly, humanitarian aid must never be used as a political tool and Israel is bound under international law to allow the unhindered passage of humanitarian aid.