P-06-1387 – Provide Humanitarian Aid to Gaza - Correspondence from the Petitioner to the  Committee, 29 October 2024

I understand that the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) has now launched a Middle East humanitarian appeal, and that the Welsh Government has made a donation of £100,000, which is most welcome.

Given the dire, and continuing, humanitarian crisis in Gaza, do the Welsh Government have any plans to provide further humanitarian aid in addition to the £100,000 donation to the DEC Middle East humanitarian appeal?

Further, in the document sent by Delyth Jewell MS to Jack Sargeant MS regarding an international relations evidence session with the First Minister on the 19^th June 2024, the then First Minister, Vaughan Gething MS, stated that the Welsh Government had previously provided benefits in kind, such as equipment or expertise, but that ‘no detailed conversations had taken place’.

In light of the fact that the conflict started over a year ago, why is it that no detailed conversations have taken place in relation to benefits in kind which the Welsh Government can provide to the Palestinian people, and why is that that support seems to be conditional upon a ‘permanent of sustainable ceasefire’?

It would be useful for the new Welsh Government, and First Minister, to outline their position on this matter.

Further, it would be useful if the Welsh Government could outline their position on broader commitments to assisting both financially, and with benefits in kind, to the rebuilding of Gaza, a task which will require significant finances, expertise, and equipment as a result of the total obliteration of the vast majority of Gaza and its civilian infrastructure.