Middle East Minister Tobias Ellwood has visited Gaza for the first time since the conflict with Israel this summer.
Mr Ellwood is the first British minister to travel to the Palestinian territory since the violence.
He visited the heavily damaged neighbourhood of Shujaiyya and a Commonwealth war cemetery, where graves were damaged in the fighting.
Mr Ellwood said: “I saw first-hand the disastrous consequences of this summer’s conflict in Gaza. I was profoundly shocked and saddened at the suffering ordinary Gazans have experienced.
“The UK is already deeply engaged in providing humanitarian support for those affected. The UK has committed £19.1m in humanitarian aid and medical assistance from UK health experts, providing essential shelter, food, clean water and medicine.”
The MP met a Palestinian Authority minister who explained the work that will be done to rebuild Gaza, and the Foreign Office claimed, efforts to “restore Palestinian Authority control over the Strip”.
Mr Ellwood said: “It is important that the Palestinian Authority returns to Gaza to provide services and security to all Gazans.”
Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond has previously said Britain wants to see the PA return to control the territory in place of Hamas.
Mr Ellwood added: “The cycle of violence we have seen in Gaza is unsustainable. Humanitarian aid is not enough. We must address the underlying causes of this repeated conflict: for the sake of ordinary Palestinians across the Strip and for Israelis too.
“Action is urgently needed. Negotiations in Cairo present a genuine opportunity for the violence to end, to provide peace and security to Palestinians and Israelis and for movement and access restrictions to be lifted.”
