Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories

Question

Lammy questioned whether the Government accepts the ICJ’s authority and supports full implementation of its orders, urging clarity on their stance. He also inquired about progress in securing a truce that would protect civilians and release hostages.

Question

Lammy asked about continued protection for British troops stationed across the Middle East and queried why the Foreign Secretary had not yet addressed the House regarding the situation.

Question

I thank the Minister for advance sight of his statement. Last week, the International Court of Justice made an interim ruling under the genocide convention on the situation in Gaza... [full question]

Question

I welcome the update from the deputy Foreign Secretary about the Contact Group and progress being made. However, I am concerned that on 18 January in Al-Mawasi, a supposed safe zone in Gaza... [full question]

Question

I thank the Minister for prior sight of his statement. On Friday, despite concerted efforts to dismiss, ridicule and undermine South Africa’s case... [full question]

Question

The ICJ has dismissed South Africa's demand for Israel to stop defending itself and instructed Israel not to cease operations but only prevent genocide, which it is already doing. Hamas have been ordered to release hostages without success. Does the Minister believe that Jews in South Africa are safe given the country’s high crime rate and Jewish discrimination?

Question

The right hon. Gentleman mentioned interim measures by the ICJ but refused to answer my question on Israel's legal obligation to comply with the Court’s rulings.

Question

While everyone supports Israel's right to defend itself, can my hon. Friend be confident that a two-state solution will materialise? If not, what further actions should we take?

Question

With mixed messages from the Government, what assurance can be given that they are communicating to Israeli counterparts about compliance with ICJ's legally binding orders?

Question

A pause in fighting, humanitarian aid and a long-lasting peace are necessary. Does my right hon. Friend agree that everyone should work towards achieving these goals?

Question

Does the Minister agree with previous statements encouraging Myanmar to comply with provisional measures and will he similarly encourage Israel?

Question

Can we use taxpayers' money to fund UNRWA, given intelligence suggesting 1,200 staff are Hamas operatives and other family members involved in terror groups?

Question

What impact will the UNRWA review have on aid provision? How can the UK Government ensure that Israel complies with prevention orders set by the ICJ?

Question

Given UNRWA's critical role in Gaza, does the Minister agree that withholding funds could exacerbate the humanitarian situation?

Question

Is it HM Government’s analysis that Israel is operating within the ICJ's measures? What consequences will there be if these aren’t observed?

Question

Israel is much more than Prime Minister Netanyahu. What more are we in the US and the UK doing to encourage the moderate voices in Israel who argue for a definite democratic future for Gaza and the west bank? Above all, is there any more progress we can make to convince the Israeli Government that it is not in their interests to have any more settlements or expansions of existing settlements?

Question

The ICJ ruling is highly significant all around the world... Will the Minister also tell us that, in light of the ICJ ruling, all British military aid to Israel has been suspended until such time as they abide by the ruling?

Question

What circumstances would change the Government’s policy towards Israel, which is currently determined to oppose a two-state solution?

Question

Let the House be in no doubt that article 1 of the genocide convention makes it absolutely clear that the UK has a legal obligation, not just a moral duty, to act to prevent genocide... Will the Government immediately suspend the sale of arms to the Israeli military?

Question

The Foreign Secretary... In the light of the recent decision to freeze funding to UNRWA, how will this aid be delivered? Following the review, what action is the UK expecting UNRWA to take to see the funding resumed?

Question

I echo and support the words of my right hon. Friend the Member for Tottenham (Mr Lammy). International law must be upheld... Will the Minister clarify the assurance that UNRWA operations will continue while investigations take place, and that ordinary Gazans will still be able to access that vital aid?

Question

The Minister is right to reference the desperate plight of civilians in Gaza... Will the Government consider a scheme for non-citizens, such as the Ukraine scheme, to help with this desperate situation—this plight for citizens in Gaza?

Question

In November, a report by the Institute for Monitoring Peace and Cultural Tolerance in School Education found that half of Gaza’s 500,000 school pupils attended UNRWA-operated education institutions... The Minister says that he is going to suspend future payments, but the damage has already been done by decades of UK funding.

Question

Many of us have had concerns about the activities of UNRWA and the people who work for it... If all these people from UNRWA are actually involved with the terrorist organisations, perhaps they could actually do something about assisting with getting the hostages out of captivity.

Question

In his answer to the hon. Member for Rutland and Melton, and in a number of other answers he has given, the Minister has said, “We have raised this with Israel”, as if that were enough. What does Israel say in response to the question raised by the hon. Member for Rutland and Melton about a known humanitarian base being bombed? What will the Government do to insist that Israel abides by the ICJ’s ruling that it must investigate and punish the direct and public incitement to genocide?

Question

I welcome the move to pause UNRWA funding, but the scale of the problem is much more significant than if it had involved only a handful of people, given the reports that 10% of UNRWA’s 12,000 workers in Gaza are somehow linked to Hamas and other terror groups. A few weeks ago, it was revealed that a Telegram group used by 3,000 UNRWA teachers celebrated the 7 October massacre. Given those appalling earlier revelations, why did the Government not rethink our relationship with UNRWA before?

Question

Has the Minister seen the reaction to the ICJ judgment in Israel? There were reports at the weekend of a number of rallies at which Netanyahu Cabinet members said, “The ICJ makes judgments, but we make settlements.” There is now a call for settlements in Gaza, both in Khan Yunis and in Rafah. At the same time, Netanyahu is attacking the Qataris, even though they have been playing a significant role in securing the release of hostages. He has also been refusing to engage in a discussion about the Egyptian peace programme. In reality, the UK Government have virtually no influence over Netanyahu; we should admit that. He will listen only to the Americans, so what discussions are we having with the Biden Administration to ensure that they maximise the pressure to bring about a ceasefire discussion and the release of the hostages and prisoners?

Question

Reports of UNRWA staff potentially being involved in the 7 October massacre—one of the worst pogroms against Jewish people since the holocaust—bring horror to many people, especially now that we are learning that up to 10% of UNRWA employees have some links with Hamas. I know that the Minister has said that there will be an independent review of UNRWA. Can he assure me that it will be independent, and that the UK Government will have input into it to make sure that the UN is not marking its own homework? If these allegations are true, what will we do about UNRWA?

Question

As others have said, the ICJ’s interim ruling could not be more serious, and it sets out urgent provisional measures that must be taken. I am sorry, but the Minister has not yet been clear on this point, so I will ask him again: do the Government agree that Israel has a legal obligation to comply with those measures? What role will the Government play in ensuring that within one month of the ruling, Israel submits a report to the Court on the steps that it has taken to comply with the orders, as it is required to?

Question

The allegations against employees of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency were appalling, but UNRWA remains a vital source of food and support for the Palestinian people. I can already hear voices from the Conservative Back Benches that seem to be calling for us to throttle funding for UNRWA for the long term. Can my right hon. Friend advise us on what will happen between now and April, as regards his representations to the Chancellor on the Budget and contingency funding for this organisation after April?

Question

What steps are the Government taking, in line with their obligations under international law, to ensure the full and immediate implementation of provisional measures ordered by the ICJ regarding the protection of Palestinians from genocide, and the immediate provision of humanitarian aid and other vital services? Can the Minister confirm whether the UK will now end arms sales to Israel, due to the risk that they could be used unlawfully to kill women and children?

Question

I thank my right hon. Friend for updating the House, following a number of very significant and concerning developments in recent days. We should not forget that, in the midst of all this, dozens and dozens of families continue to live every day with the anguish of knowing that one of their loved ones is being held hostage in unknown conditions. Should not the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages held by Hamas be the one thing that every Member of this House calls for, following the ICJ report?

Question

The hon. Member for Rutland and Melton raised the dreadful, appalling issue of the targeted Israeli airstrike on the MAP compound—the compound of a British charity—in Gaza. On behalf of the National Union of Journalists and the International Federation of Journalists, I would like to raise with the deputy Foreign Secretary the fact that almost 100 journalists have been killed in Gaza since 7 October. Their bravery has kept the world informed and exposed some of the appalling atrocities that we see daily. What does he plan to do to stop the deliberate targeting of journalists?

Question

Asked the Minister to confirm that the UK will condemn far-right Israeli Ministers who attended a conference on resettling Palestinians and to support the release of Hamas hostages.

Question

Asked if UK will cease arms sales to Israel given reports of war crimes and potential genocide.

Question

Asked if the UK will uphold ICJ ruling and suspend arms sales.

Question

Asked how UK will ensure humanitarian relief in Gaza without UNRWA support.

Question

Asked if UK will suspend arms sales due to the risk of genocide in Gaza.

Question

Asked about providing specialist treatment for wounded children from Gaza in UK hospitals.

Question

Pressed Minister on Foreign Secretary's discussion with Prime Minister Netanyahu regarding Palestinian state.

Question

Asked about steps UK is taking to ensure compliance with ICJ ruling and prevent further killings in Gaza.

Question

Pressed Minister on steps UK is taking to ensure compliance with ICJ ruling.

Question

Asked the Minister if Philippe Lazzarini indicated a specific timeline for his inquiry and when the pause in funding will start to impact on UNRWA’s humanitarian aid work.

Question

Asked if the UK was involved in negotiating a hostage deal framework and whether the Government are using their diplomatic position to press for the release of all hostages as soon as possible.

Question

Asked if the Minister thinks an innocent Palestinian civilian shot dead by Israeli army constitutes a war crime and what representations have been made to the Israeli Government about it.

Question

Asked about legal advice regarding continuing arms sales to Israel while stopping funding for UNRWA.

Question

Asked about assessments and representations regarding increased settler violence in the West Bank.

Question

Asked if we will take serious options to separate ourselves from risk of complicity by demanding an immediate ceasefire, banning all arms sales to Israel, and ensuring sufficient funding for humanitarian aid.