Our position is well-known and has not changed. In line with international law, and relevant UN Security Council resolutions, notably Resolutions 242 and 497, we do not recognize Israel's sovereignty over the territories occupied by Israel since June 1967. Annexation of territory by force is prohibited under international law. The UK has also reiterated our position at the UN Security Council, including with our Belgian, French, German and Polish colleagues on 26 March, and in the UN Security Council Chamber on 27 March. On 2 April, the Foreign Secretary also made clear the UK's position in the House of Commons confirming we view the annexation of territory by force as prohibited under international law.

The UK’s longstanding position on the Middle East Peace Process is clear: we support a negotiated settlement leading to a safe and secure Israel living alongside a viable and sovereign Palestinian state; based on 1967 with equal land swaps to reflect the national, security, and religious interests of the Jewish and Palestinian peoples. Every Israeli and Palestinian has the right to live in peace and security. We understand and share the deep frustration on all sides at the lack of progress on the Middle East Peace Process. The ongoing violence underlines that a just and lasting resolution that ends the occupation and delivers peace for both Israelis and Palestinians is long overdue.

The UK is deeply concerned about the challenges facing over a million Palestinian refugees who rely on food assistance in Gaza. We recognise that Palestinian refugees need UNRWA to be on a more secure financial footing. To that end, the UK is working with UNRWA and other donors to support cost cutting efforts, diversify donor income, and encourage multi-year funding commitments.

The UK is a leading donor to UNRWA and I can confirm that the UK has committed to providing up to £80m to UNRWA over the next two years. However, a long-term solution requires a just, fair, agreed and realistic settlement for Palestinian refugees. Until that happens the UK remains firmly committed to supporting UNRWA and Palestinian refugees.

The UK government will continue to lead the world in our long-term support for comprehensive sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR), and to help women and girls get the information and services they need to give them control over their own lives and bodies.

Following the reintroduction and expansion of the Mexico City Policy in January 2017, we have kept in close contact with partners to ensure the policy does not compromise UK-supported comprehensive SRHR programming. The full implications of the now further expanded Mexico City Policy are not yet clear, but we are closely monitoring developments. DFID will consider the implications with our offices and partners and with civil society and with donors.

The UK government will continue to lead the world in our long-term support for comprehensive sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR), and to help women and girls get the information and services they need to give them control over their own lives and bodies.

Following the reintroduction and expansion of the Mexico City Policy in January 2017, we have kept in close contact with partners to ensure the policy does not compromise UK-supported comprehensive SRHR programming. The full implications of the now further expanded Mexico City Policy are not yet clear, but we are closely monitoring developments. DFID will consider the implications with our offices and partners and with civil society and with donors.

We are concerned about the impact on UNRWA’s activities whenever unexpected reductions occur. Last year the UK led international efforts to help ensure UNRWA’s essential services were maintained, by almost doubling our original core support of £33.5 million to £65.5 million in total, including £5 million for Gaza, and lobbying other donors to step up to ensure the funding burden is shared more evenly across the international community. Both the UK and UNRWA recognise the need for UNRWA to reform to ensure its sustainability and ability to provide essential services to refugees. UNRWA has undertaken significant cost-cutting measures to respond to budget cuts and growing need. We welcome UNRWA’s efforts to broaden its donor base and are encouraging partners to step up with more funding and more predictable disbursements. The UK has a multi-year commitment to support UNRWA and we remain firmly committed to supporting UNRWA and Palestinian refugees.

DFID is concerned about the withdrawal of US aid funding from the water sector in the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPTs). The shortage of clean water and adequate waste water treatment facilities across the OPTs drives down living standards, poses health and environmental risks, and is a significant barrier to economic growth. However, the UK is not in a position to redirect funding to projects formerly funded by the US.

The UK has already committed to supporting the Palestinian water sector, through DFID’s Supporting Economic Empowerment and Development in the Occupied Palestinian Territories (SEED OPTs) programme. UK aid will help reform the water sector and co-finance critical water infrastructure to increase the supply and access of clean water across the OPTs. This includes upgrading Gaza’s water carrier network to support the planned Gaza Central Desalination Plant which, once operational, will produce 55 billion litres of safe drinking water annually, benefiting all Gazans.