Standing Up for Pregnant Women Caught in the Gaza Crisis

Yesterday, in a Westminster Hall debate, I raised an issue that I cannot ignore: the 123,000 pregnant women in Gaza and the West Bank who are currently facing unimaginable conditions.

Severe malnutrition, inadequate medical care, and constant instability mean that tens of thousands of women are navigating pregnancy in circumstances that no one should ever experience. The risks to their health and to their babies’ lives are growing every single day.

During the debate, I asked whether the Government agreed that it is incumbent upon the UK to provide as much humanitarian aid as possible so that these women, who are already vulnerable, receive the support they desperately need. I welcomed the response from Irene Campbell MP, who agreed that this must be a priority and highlighted that the flow of aid into Gaza has been inconsistent and remains far below what was promised after the ceasefire.

These are fast-moving circumstances, and the situation can shift in hours. But what does not change is our duty to speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, and to push the Government to act with urgency and compassion.

I will continue to press the UK to use its influence to ensure that humanitarian aid is not only promised, but actually delivered, reliably, at scale, and with the needs of women and children at its heart.

This is not a political point; it is a moral one. We cannot look away.