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Question
Patel questioned whether British assets were involved in interception efforts, asked if there would be new sanctions against Iran, and enquired about Britain's support for the Lebanese Government to disarm Hezbollah. She also sought clarification on discussions with parties regarding aid delivery and trade guidance implications.
Minister reply
Cooper stated that they have been clear about calling on Iran to end hostilities and have engaged in diplomatic efforts. She did not provide specifics on interception efforts but confirmed ongoing discussions for mediation, while emphasising the need for international pressure on Iran.
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Question
Patel questioned whether China showed willingness to address issues related to the Strait of Hormuz and Iran's offensive attacks during Foreign Secretary Cooper’s visit. She also inquired about discussions regarding Jimmy Lai's case and economic support for Russia.
Minister reply
Cooper did not provide details on specific commitments but confirmed ongoing diplomatic efforts with China, including calls for ending economic support for Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
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Question
Iran continues to pose a significant threat in the Middle East and globally. The Foreign Secretary is requested to confirm whether British assets were involved in interception efforts over the weekend, what material consequences Britain will take against Iran, and if there are plans to prevent senior figures linked to Iran from parking wealth in London.
Minister reply
The UK has extensive sanctions against Iran, opposes its nuclear weapons development, and is working on state threats legislation. We discourage any business involvement with illegal settlements that undermine peace prospects for Israel and Palestine.
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Question
The Foreign Secretary is asked about UK's role in mediation efforts regarding the Strait of Hormuz, potential agreement details, and whether China showed willingness to put pressure on Iran.
Minister reply
We are not direct participants but support negotiations for a settlement ensuring full recognition of freedom of navigation. I discussed with China the importance of maintaining unconditional support for this principle.
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Question
The Foreign Secretary is asked about raising Jimmy Lai's case and threatening consequences if there are no actions.
Minister reply
I raised Jimmy Lai’s case with the Chinese authorities, urging for his release urgently. We will continue to do so.
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Question
The Foreign Secretary is asked about Russia and Ukraine, whether undertakings are forthcoming from China.
Minister reply
We have been clear about the importance of our total solidarity with Ukraine. We will continue to raise differences and disagreements on this issue.
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Question
Welcomes the Foreign Secretary’s statement but questions why the Government does not ban all trade with illegal settlements instead of issuing guidance. Asks if doing too little, too late.
Minister reply
Clarifies that settlements are illegal and undermines peace; does not want trade with illegal settlements and has issued new sanctions and stronger business advice to deter support for these settlements.
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Question
Thanks the Foreign Secretary, supports steps announced by Government but says guidance is insufficient. Asks for regular review of sanctions and ban on trade with illegal settlements. Raises concerns about real estate event in London marketing Palestinian land.
Minister reply
Confirms that there should be no trade with illegal settlements; gives strong advice against it and will continue working with allies to establish practical arrangements. Discusses further actions on Hezbollah, Iran and proscription of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
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Question
Welcomes updated guidance but asks about consequences if businesses ignore it and continue to become involved in illegal expansions.
Minister reply
Warns any business against associating with potential breaches of international law; emphasises moral responsibility not to support illegal settlements which undermine regional security.
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Question
Agrees with Foreign Secretary’s stance on staying out of the conflict but asks about influence over Trump Administration regarding stopping ethnic cleansing in West Bank and destruction of Gaza.
Minister reply
States different view from US at start was right; remains a close ally, engages regularly with Marco Rubio on various issues including 20-point plan for Gaza peace process.
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Question
Welcomes the Foreign Secretary’s statement but urges for an outright ban on trade with illegal Israeli settlements, arguing it is possible and necessary as demonstrated by similar bans in other sectors. Questions if strong advice is enough or meaningful action should be taken.
Minister reply
Agrees that settlements are illegal and undermines peace; using sanctions to target issues around the settlements, working with allies, and acknowledges practical complexities but continues efforts.
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Question
Asks about actions being taken by the British Government to encourage restraint from Tel Aviv in Lebanon, referencing President Trump's relationship with PM Netanyahu and the need for a peace deal.
Minister reply
Discusses ongoing discussions with US on support for peace settlement, importance of ceasefire in Lebanon, and efforts through multinational maritime mission to restore global shipping.
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Question
Critiques Israeli intentions regarding settlers in Lebanon, Gaza, and West Bank settlements; calls for an outright ban on trade with illegal settlements and strengthens the International Court of Justice.
Minister reply
Acknowledges concerns about expanding illegal settlements and supports efforts to ensure international law is upheld through sanctions against individual Israeli Government Ministers.
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Question
Asks for an assessment of the likelihood that US pressure could influence Israel's policy regarding Gaza and West Bank.
Minister reply
Emphasises need for Israel to lift restrictions on humanitarian aid to Gaza, discusses international commitment through 20-point plan and highlights current decline in aid.
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Question
Praises the Foreign Secretary's recognition of forced displacement as a war crime but questions if there are consequences for businesses conducting financial activities in illegal Israeli settlements, urging guidance from regulatory bodies.
Minister reply
Strengthening sanctions regime to target organisations and individuals facilitating resources to illegal settlements; working with allies internationally to tackle this issue.
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Question
Questions the morality of lecturing UK businesses about trade when witnessing human rights abuses; urges cutting off all trade, particularly components for F-35 programme.
Minister reply
Acknowledges steps taken with sanctions against Israeli Government members and emphasises need to build international consensus on broader regional security framework.
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Question
Welcomes the dedication of the Foreign Secretary and her Minister for the Middle East to advance this issue, but notes that abuses continue in Gaza and the West Bank. Criticises state-supported settler violence and calls for further sanctions beyond individual measures.
Minister reply
Agrees with the concerns raised about the annexation of parts of the West Bank by Israel and supports actions against illegal settlements like E1 settlement authorised by the Israeli Government. Emphasises combining domestic sanctions and international consensus to address the issue.
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Question
Asks if expecting Hezbollah to disarm voluntarily is realistic, and inquires about measures to enforce such a demand.
Minister reply
Supports Lebanese Government's actions against Hezbollah with direct support including funding. Encourages Iran to pressure its proxies, but acknowledges the necessity of international consensus.
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Question
States that announced measures are insufficient and urges for concrete steps such as a ban on trade with illegal settlements.
Minister reply
Acknowledges the need to strengthen sanctions but emphasises the importance of international consensus in addressing broader issues like the West Bank alongside Gaza.
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Question
Discusses the issue of dual-use items that prevent basic medical and humanitarian aid from entering Gaza, and asks how pressure can be applied on Israel to change this.
Minister reply
Raises concerns directly with Israeli Government and US Administration regarding the blocking of humanitarian aid due to its potential dual use. Argues for an end to weaponisation of aid.
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Question
Welcomes new sanctions but raises a formal complaint about £28 million funnelled by charities to illegal Israeli settlements, requesting a thorough investigation and possible ban.
Minister reply
Acknowledges the work done on investigating charity abuses funding illegal settlements. Confirms an upcoming meeting with Charity Commission CEO for further action.
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Question
Questions why sanctions are targeted at certain organisations rather than against the Netanyahu regime, considering state-sponsored illegal settlement policy.
Minister reply
Explains that UK has sanctioned individual members of the Netanyahu Government. Emphasises need for international consensus to address broader issues.
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Question
Proposes banning an event in London advertising illegal sale of land in Palestinian territories, arguing it should be treated like a Russian real estate event selling Ukrainian land.
Minister reply
Pledges to pursue any breaches of UK law related to the advertised illegal settlements. Stresses that supporting illegal settlements is wrong and will impose further sanctions where possible.
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Question
Questions the effectiveness of UK sanctions on Israel, criticising their lack of impact and their ineffectiveness in curbing Israeli aggression against Palestinians.
Minister reply
Defends government's actions by highlighting measures taken such as restoring UNRWA funding, suspending arms licences, dropping challenges to ICC jurisdiction, trade negotiations suspension, introducing sanctions on violent settlers, leading diplomatic efforts at the UN, launching medevac schemes, supporting UK field hospitals in Gaza, and providing humanitarian assistance.
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Question
Requests expansion of the medevac scheme to bring over 4,000 children from Gaza for urgent medical care. Also asks that families accompanying children be allowed.
Minister reply
Supports the medevac scheme and acknowledges cases where children have brought more family members. Will make further announcements around the medevac scheme in due course.
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Question
Questions the nature of security relationship between Britain and Israel, asking for details on information shared and weapons supplied. Criticises arms trade with Israel despite its use against Palestinians.
Minister reply
Confirms new and strong arms export controls post-election to cover anything that could be used in operations in Gaza or breach international law.
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Question
Asks why the government is only issuing guidance to businesses instead of a ban on trading with illegally occupied Palestinian land, similar to the approach taken for Crimea.
Minister reply
Explains that sanctions targeting business and organisations facilitating illegal settlements are being strengthened. Needs further international cooperation but understands concerns around clarity.
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Question
Inquires about the multinational maritime mission, particularly asking for contributions from China and India.
Minister reply
Explains that France and UK are leading the multilateral mission with other countries contributing. Engaging with China and India on freedom of navigation but they are not part of the maritime mission.
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Question
Condemns mistreatment of British citizens participating in peaceful aid missions to Gaza by Israeli authorities, asking for further actions to protect these citizens.
Minister reply
Confirms that the offending Minister Ben-Gvir is sanctioned and will continue to take such measures. Provides justification for sanctions based on his behaviour.
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Question
Most right hon. and hon. Members condemn Netanyahu's actions, but calls for stronger sanctions have been ignored. Does the Minister recognise that more needs to be done, such as introducing international peacekeepers into Gaza?
Minister reply
The 20-point plan includes a stabilisation force for Gaza, which hasn't materialised due to lack of progress. The Foreign Secretary also advocates for decommissioning Hamas's weapons and initiating the Palestinian committee to operate in Gaza.
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Question
Welcomes sanctions against extremist Israeli settlers but questions why more hasn't been done about Netanyahu's recent announcement of new settlements, which is seen as an international law violation.
Minister reply
The expansion of illegal settlements in the west bank undermines a two-state solution and peace between Israel and Palestine. The UK has sanctioned individual Israeli Government Ministers for encouraging settlement expansions.
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Question
Suggests sanctions against individual organisations are insufficient; calls for action against the Israeli state itself, starting with Netanyahu.
Minister reply
The UK is taking actions including financial and development support for Palestinian Authority and recognition of a Palestinian state, alongside leading internationally to build consensus on peacebuilding.
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Question
Raises concerns about the killing of seven-month-old Sam Fahd Abu Haikal by an Israeli soldier in the occupied west bank and asks for stronger measures against Netanyahu.
Minister reply
Proper investigation and accountability are vital where there is impunity for cases involving Palestinian children losing their lives.
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Question
Asks about the UK's efforts to rebuild Lebanon by engaging with political movements like Amal that do not support Hezbollah or Iran.
Minister reply
Engagement aims at excluding Hezbollah, Iranian-backed proxies and terrorist groups from rebuilding processes in Lebanon.
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Question
Questions the practicalities of a full ban on settlement goods for UK firms trading with Israel but not Crimea.
Minister reply
New sanctions against organisations operating in illegal settlements are introduced. Practical issues like legitimate trade between communities need to be balanced.
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Question
Asks about UK's contribution to the multinational maritime mission and whether Ukraine has offered its mine-clearing vessels.
Minister reply
The mission is led by the UK and France, involving discussions with countries like Ukraine for their expertise in modern technology and support.
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Question
I thank the Foreign Secretary for her statement, and in particular the fresh wave of sanctions she announced, as well as the new measures against British businesses and charities that fund and support illegal Israeli settlements in occupied Palestine. This morning, I and other MPs met former members of the Israel Defence Forces who served in Gaza, and they gave us some pretty shocking testimony.
Minister reply
The account that my hon. Friend provides is deeply disturbing. We know that there has been systematic disregard for civilian life. We have seen the huge numbers of people killed in Gaza, including huge numbers of children. There has to be accountability and there have to be investigations.
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Question
The Secretary of State in her statement—in her own words—talked of Netanyahu’s condemnation of settler violence as being “hollow”. Will she allow the Great Israeli Real Estate Event to proceed on UK soil this weekend?
Minister reply
We are pursuing that issue. We do not want any illegal settlements to be advertised in the UK and we do not want any businesses to be engaging with that.
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Question
I welcome the sanctions and guidance that the Secretary of State has set out. Given the scale and pace of settlements, can we ensure that the sanctions are regularly reviewed?
Minister reply
We will continue to keep all our sanctions under review and to build on the sanctions regimes we have in place. We have led the world on sanctions and done more on this than most other countries around the world.
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Question
A constituent wrote to me as he was deeply concerned that the British public had been misled about the UK’s involvement in the US conflict with Iran. His sister lives next to RAF Fairford and reported 24/7 use of the base by US bomber flights in May after the ceasefire.
Minister reply
The hon. Member will know that RAF Fairford is a US base. We were clear at the beginning of this conflict that we would not support the use of the base for offensive action against Iran as part of the conflict. Once Iran started to strike Gulf partners, including their civilian infrastructure—their airports and other assets—and to put lives at risk, including those of British citizens, we provided support for air defences directly.
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Question
In Gaza, the west bank and Lebanon, Israel continues to violate international law with total impunity. I welcome the Secretary of State’s actions against individuals and networks that enable settler violence.
Minister reply
We have strongly distinguished between the illegal settlements and the Israeli state. We also distinguish between the illegal settlements and businesses in all parts of Israel that have long traded across the world, including with the UK.
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Question
I agree with the Foreign Secretary that the humanitarian situation in Gaza is grave and that renewed international energy and focus are required if the level of humanitarian aid flowing into Gaza is to be increased with the urgency the situation demands.
Minister reply
Yes, that will be a priority for discussions in Paris. The event seeks to bring together civil society groups from Palestine and Israel to stand together for peace.
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Question
I welcome the Foreign Secretary’s statement. Though I appreciate that the ban on trade with illegal settlements may be complicated, it is our moral duty to overcome those complications.
Minister reply
I agree with my hon. Friend that the closure of the strait of Hormuz is having an impact on oil across the world, as it is on fertiliser, including for sub-Saharan Africa.
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Question
The Foreign Secretary will know that the ongoing violence continues to take a horrific toll on civilian populations across Lebanon, Gaza and the wider region. Given our legal obligations under the strategic export licensing criteria, what assessment have the Government made of the risk of UK-supplied components being used in violations of international humanitarian law?
Minister reply
I can assure the hon. Gentleman that we make ongoing assessments. We take immensely seriously our obligations relating to strategic export licences under international humanitarian law and ensure that assessments continue to be made.
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Question
I add my voice to others across the House in urging for stronger actions on Israeli war crimes. Fertiliser is a key issue, not just in my constituency but across the world.
Minister reply
My hon. Friend is exactly right, and he is right to champion the farmers in his constituency. The closure of the strait of Hormuz risks impacting on the cost of living right across the globe.
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Question
The sanctions and actions announced by the government will not prevent Israel from continuing to act with impunity and committing war crimes. Why, in light of a review that concluded that Israel is not committed to upholding international humanitarian law (IHL) in Gaza, are the Government still limited to giving statements of concern rather than taking meaningful actions?
Minister reply
Because of the review mentioned, the government has taken practical steps such as suspending arms export licences and introducing a series of sanctions. However, a broader impact requires an international coalition, which is why the UK continues to drive this through international diplomacy.
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Question
Does my right hon. Friend agree that helping the Palestinian Authority requires encouraging and empowering companies, individuals, and others to assist with rebuilding, economic development, governance, and more, which would support the two-state solution?
Minister reply
I welcome this point as supporting a functioning and effective state of Palestine is crucial through funding and pressure. The current withholding of Palestinian money by Israeli Government needs restoration, and we need to support the Palestinian economy.
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Question
Why have the government not chosen to end trade with illegal Israeli settlements once and for all when they accept that these are illegal, given that violent incidents perpetrated by settlers in the west bank reached an all-time high last autumn?
Minister reply
The new sanctions introduced target organisations funding and supporting illegal settlements and settler violence. The government also strengthened business issues to prevent UK businesses from trading with or engaging in economic activity in these illegal settlements.