BBC Sounds, Music, Radio, Podcasts.

Hello, I'm Susan Hume and this is the Yesterday in Parliament podcast.

On Tuesday, the 4th of March, MPs shifted their focus of concern from Ukraine to the Middle East.

The government had earmarked yesterday as its day to launch what it's calling its plan for neighbourhoods. That's about

extra money to tackle deprivation in places across the UK. But it's troubled neighbourhoods

further afield that keep grabbing the attention. It may be a surprise, Mr Speaker, that Ukraine

may not be the biggest foreign policy headache for the government over the next coming months. And I think it may well be Israel. The Conservative Mark Pritchard, MPs had come to talk

about Israel and Gaza at the behest of the Green Party's Ellie Chowns, who was dismayed at

reports that the Israeli government is stopping aid from entering Gaza. It is once again using starvation as a weapon of war.

And today we hear that it has also announced a so-called hell plan

that would see electricity and remaining water supplies cut off.

The Minister Catherine West said the government was worried.

We're very concerned at reports that Israel is preventing humanitarian aid from

entering Gaza. Israel must not flock aid into Gaza. Humanitarian aid should never be contingent

on a ceasefire or used as a political tool. We urge the government of Israel to lift

restrictions immediately and unconditionally. The first stage of the ceasefire expired at the weekend, and the negotiations over the next

stage, with the release of more Israeli hostages, is stalling.

Speaking for the Lib Dems, Callum Miller didn't want to see ordinary Palestinians caught in the

middle.

I understand the depth of distress in Israel over the despicable way in which Hamas terrorists have played psychological games with the hostages and their families.

Yet withholding essential supplies of food, medicine and shelter only worsens the devastation faced by the Palestinian people.

The shadow Foreign Secretary Dame Priti Patel said there was no doubt that the ceasefire was incredibly fragile.

...