British backing for 'crucial' Palestinian Authority role in rebuilding Gaza

UK's Development Minister tells MPs there is ‘no role for Hamas' in future running of the territory

Destroyed buildings in northern Gaza. The Palestinian Authority has a key role to play in rebuilding the territory, Britain has said. AP

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The Palestinian Authority has a “crucial role to play” in helping to rebuild Gaza and will receive significant British aid, the UK’s Development Minister said on Tuesday.

A statement to parliament by Anneliese Dodds made clear Britain favours the PA becoming the main power in Gaza despite the continued presence of Hamas.

In a statement on Gaza, in which she announced a further £17 million ($21.1 million) in UK humanitarian aid, Ms Dodds told MPs there was a “clear plan driven by the Palestinian Authority” to help restore the devastated territory. “We're providing technical and financial assistance to the authority, including to support the urgent recovery of basic services,” she said.

Displaced Palestinians make their way back to their homes in northern Gaza after Israel allowed them to return. Reuters

Their return had been held up by a dispute over the release of Israeli hostages held in the enclave. Reuters

Palestinians are reunited as displaced people return to northern Gaza. Reuters

Palestinians in northern Gaza wait to welcome returnees from the south. Reuters

A man and child make their way home, in northern Gaza. Reuters

Palestinians on Salah Al Din Road wait to be allowed to return to their homes in northern Gaza. Reuters

Ms Dodds confirmed “the UK government's position is that there will be no role for Hamas”.

The former Conservative deputy foreign secretary, Andrew Mitchell, “applauded” the government’s position that supporting PA was now a clear policy, and “that any plans for the future governance of Gaza will involve a reformed Palestinian Authority and categorically rule out any role for Hamas”.

The UK will further support the PA with the introduction of Sir Michael Barber, a senior aide during former prime minister Tony Blair’s premiership, who has been appointed the government’s new Palestine envoy.

“He comes with incredible expertise and has been supported by the UK government to work with the PA,” Ms Dodds said.

British expertise will also be used to help the PA tackle unexploded ordnance, which was “of huge concern” and “great danger” for Palestinians returning to their homes to find Israeli munitions nearby that have failed to detonate.

Development Minister Anneliese Dodds leaving 10 Downing Street. PA

However, Priti Patel, the shadow foreign secretary, highlighted the difficulty of the PA assuming responsibility in Gaza when the organisation is based largely in the occupied West Bank – and is in need of change. “They must reform with serious, measurable, tangible reforms on education, their welfare policy and also democracy,” Ms Patel said.

Ms Dodds said the Fatah-controlled government body, that helps run Palestinian enclaves in the occupied West Bank, also needed reform to run Gaza and the British government was “having those discussions intensely with the Palestinian Authority”.

She also warned Israel that it must allow the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) to continue operating by reversing the ban on its activities that could undermine the current truce. The Knesset-backed legislation that takes effect on Thursday “risks impeding the progress made since the ceasefire”, she added, calling on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government to change its position.