Shireen Abu Aqla

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Has the Minister made representations to Israeli counterparts on Shireen Abu Aqla's killing? Will she condemn funeral violence?

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Does my hon. Friend agree that Israel and Palestinian Authority need to cooperate on a full investigation?

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Should the International Criminal Court carry out the investigation into Shireen Abu Aqla's death?

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Have the Government made representations to Israeli authorities over funeral violence?

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What representations are being made to ensure justice for Shireen Abu Aqla and other Palestinians?

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Is my hon. Friend aware that 19 Israelis have also been killed by terrorism since 21 March, and that Jewish lives matter as much as the life of the journalist who tragically lost her life? What is she doing to help the Israelis combat terrorism?

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Does the Minister agree that an international criminal court should undertake a full independent investigation into Shireen Abu Aqla's killing and bring those responsible to justice?

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How long must we wait for UK action to enforce accountability on Israel for its breaches of the fourth Geneva convention?

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Will the Minister ensure an independent investigation into Shireen Abu Aqla's killing is established using British resources and assistance?

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Can my hon. Friend assure that securing peace in the region is a Government priority following Shireen Abu Aqla's killing?

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How exactly will the Government support an impartial investigation into Shireen Abu Aqla's killing, given previous poor track records?

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Will my hon. Friend ensure UK Government’s position continues to support an independent inquiry, requiring buy-in from both Israeli Government and Palestinian Authority?

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Has the Minister summoned the Israeli ambassador to make it clear how unhelpful the Israeli police actions are to the peace process?

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Does the Minister share concerns about long-term relationships between Palestinian and Israeli communities following Shireen Abu Aqla's death, agreeing that an open investigation is key?

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What are the Government waiting for to recognise the state of Palestine, given that Palestinians face persecution and humiliation?

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Does my hon. Friend agree that those jumping to blame Israel for Shireen Abu Aqla’s death will deepen division and make peace harder?

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A constituent of mine who went to school with Shireen Abu Aqla has been in touch to share her sense of helplessness at what seems to be yet another state-sanctioned killing in the occupied territories. She said it is always incumbent on the Palestinians to prove their innocence and fight for basic human sympathy for events that befall them. I fully accept that the killing must be independently investigated, but can the Minister summon the Israeli ambassador to communicate her outrage?

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The initial autopsy said it was impossible to determine who fired the fatal shot because the bullet removed was a 5.56x45 mm NATO round used both by Israelis and Palestinians. May I ask my hon. Friend to ensure this is an independent inquiry so justice can be seen to be done?

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Let us put the killing in context of systematic abuse of Palestinian journalists. Given that, will the Minister summon the Israeli ambassador to discuss concerns about Israel's behaviour?

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Members have called for not just an impartial but independent inquiry. Given the compelling evidence pointing to Israeli forces' responsibility for Shireen’s murder, will the Minister confirm that the UK’s official position is for an independent inquiry?

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After decades of violence and disregard for human rights, why are the Government not pushing for a full independent inquiry? For the fourth time, will the Minister summon the Israeli ambassador to demonstrate outrage at security forces' actions during Shireen’s funeral?

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I refer to my entry in the Register of Members’ Financial Interests including my role as co-chair of the cross-party National Union of Journalists group. How can it be acceptable for police or security services to attack pallbearers? Not only do we call for condemnation, but for a fifth time, I call on her to summon the Israeli ambassador here to account for her actions.

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Will the Minister support the IFJ’s complaint to the ICC to ensure independence and impartiality in the investigation?

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Israel continuously targets Palestinian journalists, including Shireen Abu Aqla. What will it take for the Government to stop equivocating over these horrific crimes and hold Israel to account? And for the seventh time, will the Minister summon the Israeli ambassador?

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Many are puzzled by her reluctance to summon the Israeli ambassador. Will the Government now commit to supporting ICC investigations into this incident and wider behaviour of IDF in occupied territories?

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Another journalist is murdered in occupied Palestine. Next, the occupying power raids her family home, and then its forces brutally attack pallbearers at Shireen’s funeral. In light of that, what single step has the Government taken to oppose the occupation?

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Does the Minister appreciate that everyone in this House regrets the killing of men and women in Israel, whether they are Israeli or Palestinian? It is quite wrong to imply anything else. There has been talk of the necessity of establishing the facts. Does she appreciate that the facts of the terrible scenes at Shireen’s funeral are beyond doubt?

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The murder of Shireen Abu Aqla and the attacks on mourners at her funeral have shocked the world. It is not enough to condemn those actions; we must take action. When will the UK Government stop authorising arms sales to Israel, as we know they are killing innocent Palestinians?

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In the Minister’s statement and subsequent answers, she mentioned her attempts to get a statement at the United Nations. The problem is that Israel has consistently ignored any critical statements coming out of the UN, and has even sought to undermine the legitimacy of the UN and other international institutions. Why does she think this time will be any different?

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This is not the first time this has happened; nor will it be the last. Under occupation, Palestinians’ human rights are abused, and as we have seen, they cannot even bury their dead with dignity. Does the Minister understand that until we have a lasting peace, we will not tackle the situation at its root?

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The killing of Shireen Abu Aqla by the Israeli military and the subsequent attack on her funeral in Jerusalem demonstrate the reality of the occupation of the west bank. Amnesty International has said that it constitutes apartheid, which is a crime against humanity as defined in the Rome statute and the apartheid convention. Will the Minister not only condemn this act of inhumanity but commit now to summoning the Israeli ambassador?

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I have had a great many letters from my constituents since the brutal murder of Shireen Abu Aqla, as have, I am sure, many other Members from across the House. They are saddened. They are sickened by the scenes at her funeral. They are also deeply angry about the lack of reaction. The Minister said the word “impartial”, but can she not press the Government to push for an independent investigation into this death?

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Surely the appalling desecration of the funeral of Shireen Abu Aqla is evidence, if any more were needed, of the crime of apartheid that is being inflicted on the Palestinian people and has been rigorously documented by Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International and the Israeli human rights organisation B’Tselem. Instead of passing laws to ban local authorities and civil society from taking action against this brutal occupation, is it not time to accept the legal analysis of those human rights organisations, and do the right and moral thing and impose sanctions in response to this appalling criminality?

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The sad reality is that the horrific murder of Shireen is just another tragedy in 74 years of unaddressed ethnic cleansing of the Palestinian people, yet rather than sanction Israel for that behaviour, 55 years after occupation began, the UK Government are busy strengthening relations with it through new trade deals. I ask the Minister, for the first time: why will she not summon the ambassador of Israel to the Foreign Office?

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We know that Shireen was wearing a press vest and helmet, yet in addressing the circumstances of her murder, an Israeli military spokesperson said: “They’re armed with cameras, if you’ll permit me to say so.” Will the Minister be unequivocal in her support for journalists and transparency in Palestine, condemn any sense that to carry a camera is to be armed, and reaffirm that respect for a free press should be fundamental in any state calling itself a democracy?

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May I first declare an interest as a member of a Friends of Israel group? May I also thank the Minister for her response to the urgent question? I have seen innocent bystanders killed on numerous occasions in Northern Ireland. As the Minister will know, similarities are being drawn with Lyra KcKee, a journalist reporting on the unrest in 2019 who was killed by the new IRA. Does the Minister not agree that the loss of life is truly tragic, and that all possible steps must be taken to ensure the safety of those who seek to report the news from an unbiased position? What steps does she feel her Department can take to send that message internationally?

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I send my condolences to the family and colleagues of Shireen Abu Aqla. Can the Minister confirm that, contrary to the statement of the Israeli military spokesperson, the fact that a journalist is armed with a camera does not make that journalist a target?