UK Armed Forces in Middle East

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Welcomes Minister back but raises concerns about limited sea shipments of UK aid, Ashdod port restrictions, morale in Royal Fleet Auxiliary, potential for UK ground troops deployment, and the Defence Secretary's lack of visits to the region. Urges Government to push for an immediate ceasefire and unimpeded humanitarian aid flow.

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Compliments Government’s efforts and asks if UK would only consider deploying forces with appropriate force protection in place.

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Asks if US maritime aid corridor is needed due to Israeli restrictions, expresses concern about UK troops potentially stepping into a dangerous situation, references historical context, and urges for robust risk assessment.

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Advocates for the UK not to send troops to Gaza and instead support efforts by moderate Arab states in distributing aid, urging the Minister to maintain focus on supporting Ukraine. He mentions an additional uplift of £500 million in annual support for Ukraine, bringing this year’s total support to a record £3 billion.

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Concerned about the strain placed on UK armed forces due to recent Middle Eastern conflicts. Asks what measures are being taken to ensure rest and resilience for service personnel.

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Requests assurances that UK support for Israel would remain resolute should they enter Rafah to combat Hamas.

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Asks if a parliamentary vote would be required before deploying British troops to Gaza following the precedent of Bosnia.

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Worries about potential future legal repercussions for UK forces involved in Middle Eastern operations and seeks reassurance on this issue.

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Questions the Minister's stance regarding potential arrest warrants issued by the International Criminal Court for Israeli officials, given the death toll in Gaza.

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Considers it unwise to deploy British forces to Gaza and urges the Minister to reassure constituents accordingly.

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Inquires about discussions for UN security forces accompanying aid trucks into Gaza and rebuilding infrastructure.

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Requests assurance on the inclusion of force protection in operational plans, and the potential role of UN forces in Gaza.

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Expresses concern over continued violence in Gaza, pressing for pressure on Israel to halt bombardments and avoid deploying British troops.

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Highlights Iran's threat to regional stability, suggesting an ongoing role for UK forces in defending collective security.

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Questions the government's refusal to back calls for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza amidst reports of famine.

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Concerned about the welfare of hostages and seeks assurance on continued efforts to locate them.

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Two months ago, the House passed Labour’s motion calling for an immediate ceasefire. We believe that Hamas must immediately release their hostages, but Israel must also look at releasing its prisoners. There has to be an immediate and unimpeded supply of aid into Gaza, but I am really concerned about UK forces getting involved. We should rely absolutely on aid being delivered by the charities and voluntary organisations on the ground. What is the Defence Secretary doing with our allies and regional partners to secure an immediate ceasefire?

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The key problem, as my hon. Friend will know, is that Hamas and Islamic Jihad are appropriating aid meant for the Palestinians. What steps are our armed forces taking to ensure that aid gets to those who really need it, not the terrorist networks? What steps are they taking against Hamas’s terrorist tunnels under the Egyptian border? British armed forces could play a significant role in working with Israel to dismantle the tunnel networks.

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The Government continue to provide huge sums of taxpayers’ money for arms and weapons for Ukraine, but minimal funding for humanitarian aid for Gaza. Does the Minister believe that the UK public share the Government’s spending priorities?

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Despite some positive noises coming out of the middle east about a truce, for my constituents in Bolton it is deeply worrying to see reports of an increasingly likely ground offensive in the southern city of Rafah. The Minister spoke about not wanting to see any more bloodshed, but if there is a ground offensive, more blood will be shed. What are our Government, the Ministry of Defence in particular, doing to avoid bloodshed happening in Rafah and to prepare for different scenarios?

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My understanding is that the British Government do not support the ground offensive by the Israeli military in Rafah. Will they therefore use all the leverage at their disposal, including withdrawing arms export licences, if the Israeli Government act against British policy?

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On the middle east, it is a decade since this House voted to support the UK’s joining the global coalition against Daesh. Although territory has been liberated, does not the recent strike by the RAF against a rocket launcher being used to target coalition forces underline the need for a sustained, long-term commitment to defeat and destroy terrorism?

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I thank the Minister for his responses. I very much welcome the Prime Minister’s announcement last week about the extra defence spending. It is important that we support innocent victims who cannot protect themselves. The UK’s role in the middle east is much appreciated, acclaimed and respected. Does the Minister agree that in response to recent increased Iranian threats, for instance with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps being responsible for Hamas terrorist attacks across Gaza and the broader middle east, we must do whatever we can within our budget to encourage de-escalation and to try to prevent further attacks by Iran and its supporters?

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We talk about 500 trucks a day because that was the pre-war number, but that was when Gaza had a relatively functioning economy and an agricultural sector to back it up. Therefore, more than 400 trucks will be needed, by land and sea, and so I thank the armed forces for their help in delivering aid and in helping to build the pier. What pressure are we putting on Israel to get more aid quickly delivered by land, which is the best and quickest way of doing it, and on the use of UNRWA in northern Gaza, as it has the most effective system to get aid to the right places quickly?

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Does my hon. Friend agree that His Majesty’s armed forces could be providing any humanitarian support, now or in the future, only with Israel’s total co-operation and that it should be recognised for that? Has he noted also that Israel’s Iron Dome and Arrow 3 defensive systems, among other things, would, in effect, be part of the protection of His Majesty’s and other allied forces? Does he agree that that makes even more nonsense of the anti-Israel interests’ call for an arms embargo against Israel, because if allied forces, including His Majesty’s forces, were to be acting in the region, they would be looking for support from Israel itself?