The humanitarian situation in Gaza remains dire, even after the implementation of a ceasefire, the UK Minister for the Middle East and North Africa told Parliament on Monday.

According to the minister, half a million people in Gaza are struggling to secure enough food, while around 100,000 are living in catastrophic conditions, facing extreme deprivation and life-threatening hardship.

Although more aid trucks are now entering Gaza, access remains severely restricted. Key crossings are closed, humanitarian convoys are being turned back, and essential medical and shelter supplies continue to be blocked.

The minister warned that international aid efforts are being further undermined by Israel’s decision to ban 37 international non-governmental organizations, describing the move as unjustifiable and incompatible with the agreed Peace Plan.

The plan, the minister recalled, required Israel to allow the unrestricted flow of humanitarian aid through the United Nations and other international organizations. Without NGO access, he said, the plan cannot succeed.

He also highlighted what he described as a perverse reality at Gaza’s borders, where commercial goods face fewer restrictions than humanitarian supplies, making it easier to import luxury items and cigarettes than basic medicines and shelter materials.

Thousands of tents and emergency supplies funded by the United Kingdom remain stranded outside Gaza, unable to reach families in need.

Meanwhile, civilians are enduring winter floods and storms while sheltering among rubble. Many are suffering from hypothermia, while sewage overflows into residential areas, compounding health risks.

The UK government reaffirmed its commitment to humanitarian assistance, pledging £116 million this financial year for aid, including healthcare, food, clean water and sanitation. UK-funded medical teams are currently providing treatment to 800,000 Palestinians.

The minister also noted broader diplomatic developments, confirming that the United Kingdom formally recognized the State of Palestine last autumn and announced the opening of a Palestinian embassy in London, steps he said were aimed at preserving the possibility of a two-state solution and lasting peace.