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Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories
14 November 2023
Lead MP
Andrew Mitchell
Debate Type
Ministerial Statement
Tags
Foreign Affairs
Other Contributors: 74
At a Glance
Andrew Mitchell raised concerns about israel and the occupied palestinian territories in the House of Commons. A government minister responded. Other MPs also contributed.
How the Debate Unfolded
MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said:
Government Statement
The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Andrew Mitchell, delivered a statement on the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza. He highlighted the critical humanitarian situation with hospitals unable to function due to lack of fuel and supplies, leading to loss of life among civilians, including children and aid workers. Since October 7th, the UK has doubled its aid commitment to £30 million for civilian support in Gaza and continues efforts to facilitate safe passages for aid delivery and repatriation of British nationals. Mitchell committed to advocating with Israeli authorities for increased humanitarian access and emphasised the importance of adhering to international law and minimizing civilian casualties.
David Lammy
Lab
Tottenham
Question
I would have liked to start by welcoming the new Foreign Secretary but I cannot do so because he is not here. Despite my respect for the Minister, he is not the Foreign Secretary. We don't know when or how this House will hear from the Foreign Secretary.
Minister reply
Having a former Prime Minister and party leader as our Foreign Secretary must be a plus. Lord Cameron, an experienced parliamentarian, will exert British influence effectively overseas.
Alicia Kearns
Con
Rutland and Stamford
Question
No more aid will reach Gaza due to fuel shortages at the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees. What is being done to address this situation? Secondly, has the Foreign Office’s overseas judicial assistance assessment increased since 7 October?
Minister reply
Fuel is desperately needed today; we are talking to Mr Satterfield about accessing clean fuel. Regarding the second part of your question, I will write to you on that point.
Brendan O'Hara
SNP
Argyll, Bute and South Lochaber
Question
The MP questioned whether the minister had reasonable grounds to believe that Israel breached international humanitarian law in its response. He also asked if an immediate ceasefire could be expected under the new regime.
Minister reply
The minister acknowledged the loss of life and stated that a ceasefire is essential but emphasised the need for safe pauses for humanitarian relief. He referred to the ICRC's stance on protecting hospitals and noted his commitment towards finding a political solution.
Question
The MP asked when the Government would take firmer measures, such as proscribing the IRGC.
Minister reply
The minister indicated that he had been in contact with the Foreign Secretary regarding the issue of proscription but did not provide a specific timeline for action.
Question
The MP sought clarification on whether the Government agreed with Labour's stance that the ICC has jurisdiction over conduct in Gaza.
Minister reply
The minister reiterated that it is not for Ministers to determine where the ICC has jurisdiction but noted that the chief prosecutor would continue to express his views.
Julian Lewis
Con
New Forest East
Question
The MP questioned what options might be considered after Israel's military actions and whether a two-state solution could be imposed.
Minister reply
The minister confirmed that extensive thought is being given to various options both within Britain and across the region.
Christine Jardine
Lib Dem
Edinburgh West
Question
The MP advocated for a political solution contingent on bilateral adherence to a ceasefire.
Minister reply
The minister agreed that a political solution is crucial and noted the importance of extended pauses for humanitarian relief.
Question
The MP questioned the use of hospitals by Hamas fighters, posing risks to civilians.
Minister reply
The minister confirmed that Hamas has made clear its opposition to a ceasefire and highlighted reports of hospital misuse by militants.
Tahir Ali
Lab
Birmingham Hall Green and Moseley
Question
The MP urged the Minister to call for an immediate ceasefire based on warnings of genocide.
Minister reply
The minister reiterated a focus on humanitarian pauses while emphasising efforts to secure critical supplies.
Kit Malthouse
Con
North West Hampshire
Question
The MP asked about the potential for UN peacekeeping forces in response to violence against Palestinians.
Minister reply
The minister condemned settler violence and acknowledged opportunities for future UN involvement.
Question
The MP sought details on steps taken to ensure hostages' release, believing this could unlock a route to peace.
Minister reply
The minister thanked the MP for her expertise and commitment, confirming that everything possible is being done across Government and internationally to recover the hostages.
Mark Pritchard
Con
The Wrekin
Question
The MP asked about the assessment of Hamas as a security risk and measures taken with international partners.
Minister reply
The minister agreed that Hamas poses a significant threat, supporting Israel's right to self-defence.
Imran Hussain
Lab Co-op
Bradford East
Question
The MP calls for an immediate ceasefire and humanitarian aid to be allowed into Gaza, citing the dire situation faced by civilians including wounded individuals and those in hospitals.
Minister reply
The Minister reiterates the Prime Minister's stance on Israel protecting innocent civilians and does not directly address a ceasefire or humanitarian aid measures.
Michael Ellis
Con
Question
The MP raises concerns about hospitals in Gaza being used by Hamas as command centres and for holding hostages, asking if the Minister agrees this is an outrageous breach of international law.
Minister reply
Yes.
Preet Kaur Gill
Lab Co-op
Birmingham Edgbaston
Question
The MP inquires about progress on securing a humanitarian resolution through the UN Security Council and criticises the previous reduction of funding to UNRWA.
Minister reply
The Minister confirms that substantial aid has been allocated, including £30 million recently, and emphasises ongoing efforts for humanitarian access.
Vicky Ford
Con
Question
The MP asks the Minister to reinforce calls for Israel to take measures protecting civilians, especially in hospitals.
Minister reply
The Minister reassures that the Government is making such requests and supports efforts for humanitarian pauses.
Richard Burgon
Lab Co-op
Leeds East
Question
The MP queries why the UK Government has not joined other European nations in calling for a ceasefire, despite international support.
Minister reply
The Minister argues that both parties need to agree on a ceasefire and highlights Hamas's refusal.
Matthew Offord
Con
Question
The MP contends there is no moral equivalence between Hamas and Israel, citing atrocities committed by Hamas.
Minister reply
Yes, the Minister agrees that there is a significant difference in morality and states that Israel's actions are understandable.
Alex Sobel
Lab Co-op
Leeds Central
Question
The MP presents evidence suggesting Israel may be pursuing an expulsionist policy towards Palestinians, questioning what action the Government is taking to restrain such measures.
Minister reply
The Minister states that while the UK remains a close friend of Israel, it will continue to give candid advice.
North Cotswolds
Question
The MP asks about strategic planning towards achieving a two-state solution in light of ongoing conflicts.
Minister reply
The Minister confirms extensive work is being done and reiterates support for the two-state solution.
Tulip Siddiq
Lab Co-op
Hampstead and Highgate
Question
The MP highlights dire conditions in hospitals due to lack of essential supplies, questioning what action is being taken.
Minister reply
The Minister affirms efforts to protect vulnerable citizens and cites US President Biden's statements on protecting Al-Shifa Hospital.
Bob Seely
Con
Question
The MP asks what Israel can do when hospitals in Gaza are used for storing ammunition, holding hostages, and denying fuel.
Minister reply
The Minister commends the MP's passionate argument.
Tan Dhesi
Lab Co-op
Slough
Question
The MP argues that current humanitarian pauses are inadequate and calls for a long-term ceasefire to address infrastructural damage.
Minister reply
The Minister acknowledges the need for aid but focuses on opening more checkpoints to allow entry of support.
Rehman Chishti
Con
Question
The MP suggests looking at previous successful international donor conferences and considering transitional arrangements under UN Trusteeship Council.
Minister reply
The Minister agrees to consider the proposals as potential ways forward.
Question
There is no point in bragging about awarding £30 million of aid if it cannot get into Gaza to help civilians. Since 7 October, only 900 aid trucks have been allowed in compared to normal circumstances where the number would be close to 20,000. With fuel running out, is this not now collective punishment? If an immediate ceasefire is not called for, what length of pause in fighting does he think is required to get aid into Gaza?
Minister reply
It is not just a humanitarian pause that is the issue but how to distribute vital humanitarian supplies safely. As the opportunity presents itself, we will do everything possible to drive forward those pauses and make them as effective as possible.
Question
UNRWA has announced it cannot collect aid imported from Egypt because of a lack of fuel for trucks. This also means water pumping, sewage treatment, and other essential services will cease. Has the Minister had discussions with Israelis about getting aid around Gaza and their exit strategy?
Minister reply
Fuel is the most important issue today, and we continue to lobby and argue with all relevant parties for allowing vital fuel into Gaza.
Question
The IDF offered incubators to a hospital in Gaza, but it needs fuel. The UN has offered to courier that fuel in, but the Israeli Government are not allowing it. Can the Minister urge for everything possible to be done to change this?
Minister reply
Israel did offer fuel yesterday, but Hamas did not allow it to be accepted.
Question
Congratulations to Lord Cameron on his appointment as Foreign Secretary. To enhance Commons scrutiny, will the Foreign Office commit to having the Secretary of State appear before the Foreign Affairs Committee on the same regular cycle that the Foreign Secretary would have appeared at the Dispatch Box for FCDO questions?
Minister reply
We are committed to ensuring full scrutiny and a similar pattern of appearances for the Foreign Secretary before the Foreign Affairs Committee is a good suggestion.
Question
President Macron, the UN, and Arab countries are calling for a ceasefire. Does the Minister accept that what British people want to see is policies that will end the killing and move towards a negotiated settlement?
Minister reply
We all want to focus on the political solution, but as set out by those on her own Front Bench and others, humanitarian pauses rather than a ceasefire are the right approach.
Question
Extra support has gone to Gazan civilians, but will further aid getting there quickly require longer than four-hour humanitarian pauses? What progress is being made?
Minister reply
I cannot give a timescale but we are aware that achieving a humanitarian pause is the start of progress and nothing will deter us from advocating for it.
Question
The Minister referred to the appalling loss of life among children. What are the Government doing to bring this conflict to some kind of conclusion?
Minister reply
In north Gaza, all hospitals but one are out of service owing to lack of power or damage. We are acutely aware of the strain and stress on life and doing everything possible to advance respect for international humanitarian law and end the conflict.
Question
The Minister acknowledged that US President hopes to see less intrusive action at Al-Shifa Hospital as patients and staff remain trapped inside, hospitals must be protected. Is this also the position of UK Government?
Minister reply
Yes, we are extremely concerned that everything should be done to protect life in line with how President of the United States set out.
Question
The Archbishop of Canterbury and French President join UN heads, millions of British people, 120 nations, Members of this House calling for a ceasefire. More than 11,000 Palestinians have been killed, nearly half children. Will the Minister call for an immediate ceasefire to end suffering?
Minister reply
The hon Gentleman and I share common aim of ending suffering but argument is about how best to achieve it; trying to promote humanitarian pauses is right way to proceed.
Question
Nobody wants conflict to continue, does Minister agree that those calling for immediate ceasefire must initially acknowledge Hamas as terrorist organisation, started conflict through horrific attack on 7 October. How would you respond?
Minister reply
My hon Friend is wise in pointing out reasons why combatants are not seeking ceasefire at this time.
Question
UNRWA announced it can no longer collect aid because of lack of fuel for trucks. Half hospitals in Gaza closed owing to lack of fuel and security. What discussions is Minister having with Israeli authorities to ensure healthcare, aid and fuel can get into Gaza? How long would an extended pause be?
Minister reply
Every sinew of British Government bent towards achieving humanitarian aims set out by hon Lady; Al-Ahli Hospital remains only functioning hospital in Gaza but does not have a blood bank or supplies.
Question
In addition to evidence of Hamas stockpiling weapons and misappropriating aid, including oxygen concentrators hidden in aid trucks for tunnels. Is that not all evidence that ceasefire would only embolden terrorists, prolong conflict?
Minister reply
My hon Friend is right: military power of Hamas has to be destroyed; Israel Defence Forces use their power to defend citizens while Hamas uses civilians.
Question
Minister rightly pointed out intolerable human suffering in Gaza, but does he accept it's consequence of blatant abuse by Hamas who bombed hospitals and denied aid. Now is the wrong time for ceasefire as terrorists are under pressure?
Minister reply
Right hon Gentleman speaks with authority and understanding; eloquently explains why ceasefire is not practical opportunity.
Question
Minister rightly said hospitals should be places of safety, but Médecins Sans Frontières demanded medical evacuation of patients. What more can British Government do?
Minister reply
British Government doing everything possible to advance that humanitarian endeavour.
Question
Clearly, the atrocities of Hamas will in time be considered a war crime, but what we are seeing from the IDF at the moment is so far removed from what can be described as “self-defence”. Israeli Government officials have called Gazans “human animals” and referenced the use of nuclear weapons on Gaza. Netanyahu himself has cited Amalek in the Book of Samuel, which mentions killing and slaughtering every child, animal and person. On top of that, Israeli Ministers have handed out machine guns to people in the west bank. I have not heard a moral case—let alone a logical case—from anybody in this House for not joining all the Arab world, the UN, the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Pope in calling for an immediate ceasefire in order to get hostages out and humanitarian aid in.
Minister reply
The hon. Gentleman will have heard the arguments for and against a ceasefire, and he will have heard what the Government and his own Front Benchers have said. That is where the argument rests.
Kerry McCarthy
Lab
Bristol East
Question
At the last FCDO questions, I asked the Minister twice about getting fuel through to hospitals, and highlighted in particular the plight of women due to give birth in appalling circumstances. Their babies are now dying. I appreciate what he says about trying to do everything we can to get fuel through to hospitals, but at what point do we say, “Enough is enough; Israel will not allow that to happen”, and what can we do to ensure that those babies’ lives are saved?
Minister reply
It is important not to give up hope. It is important to drive forward in every possible way we can the objectives that the hon. Lady and I share, and we will continue to do that.
Nia Griffith
Lab
Llanelli
Question
As the Minister acknowledged, we were all shocked by the images of babies being huddled together in the hope of keeping them warm enough to stay alive. What more will the Government do to overcome the problems that the Minister referred to in response to my hon. Friends the Members for Sunderland Central (Julie Elliott) and for Bristol East (Kerry McCarthy), to ensure that we facilitate the safe delivery of fuel for humanitarian purposes such as keeping life-saving equipment working for people in hospitals in Gaza?
Minister reply
The central way to address that point is to try to get fuel through, and that is what we are doing.
Question
Many of my constituents want to see hon. Members in this place, including those on the Labour and Tory Benches, calling for a ceasefire in Gaza. With one in 200 local Gazan people killed by the Israeli war machine, how much worse does it have to get before this place prioritises life over death and peace over war? The Minister says that Hamas may not want a ceasefire, so why do what Hamas wish? The Government must not wait for more people to die before eventually listening to the public, my constituents and President Macron and making that ceasefire happen.
Minister reply
The hon. Member will have heard heavily rehearsed during this statement the arguments for and against a ceasefire, and I fear I cannot add anything to what I have already said on that point.
Zarah Sultana
Your Party
Coventry South
Question
The Minister’s call for Israel to follow international law in Gaza rings utterly hollow when we know that that is not happening. The United Nations Secretary-General, Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch and others have been clear that Israel is clearly and grossly violating international humanitarian law. Since 2015, this Government have licensed more than £472 million of arms exports to Israel, including parts of F-35 stealth aircraft, which are currently raining down bombs on Gaza. Does the Minister know whether British weapons have been used in violations of international law in Gaza, and does he agree that we should not sell weapons for committing war crimes?
Minister reply
The hon. Member will know that the President of Israel, President Herzog, has made it clear that his country will abide by international humanitarian law. [Interruption.] She will also know that, in respect of arms exports in this country, we have the toughest arms regulations anywhere in the world.
Debbie Abrahams
Lab
Oldham East and Saddleworth
Question
What assessment has the Minister made of the number of Palestinian civilian deaths that there will be, including babies and children, without a humanitarian ceasefire in the next month?
Minister reply
I would not necessarily trust the figures that are produced by Hamas, but we do know that an extraordinary number of people have lost their lives, and we are all trying to do everything we can to make sure that we bring this situation to a conclusion as rapidly as possible.
Clive Efford
Lab
Eltham and Chislehurst
Question
Before we talk about humanitarian pauses, should we not agree first what we want to achieve by them? Would they not need to be for days or weeks, not just for four hours? We need to repair infrastructure and get aid in on a scale that is just not possible while hostilities continue. Do the Government not need to call for an immediate cessation of hostilities—a ceasefire—during the period that is agreed, to get humanitarian aid in at the volume that is required?
Minister reply
It is not just a question of using the pauses to try to advance humanitarian good; it is also about trying to use the humanitarian pauses to achieve some of the things the hon. Member said. As I said earlier, we have to be incredibly careful that we do not end up creating a false sense of security, as the House will remember happened in Srebrenica, northern Iraq and Rwanda.
Question
I thank my right hon. Friend for his statement and all he is doing to alleviate suffering in the region. The human cost in Israel and Gaza is truly immense and heartbreaking. Will he join me in commending the extraordinary bravery of the aid workers on the ground in Gaza, some of whom have tragically lost their lives, including over 100 UN workers?
Minister reply
My hon. Friend is entirely right. I hope a particularly hot place in hell is reserved for those who murder humanitarian workers who have put themselves in harm’s way unarmed purely to protect the lives and interests of their fellow humanity.
Florence Eshalomi
Lab Co-op
Vauxhall and Camberwell Green
Question
We have heard this afternoon that, frankly, this short pause is not working—four hours will not achieve anything. The fact that we are seeing Palestinians being forced to leave their homes en masse is quite worrying. Will the Minister condemn the acts of violence and extremism by Israeli settlers in the west bank, call on Israeli authorities to prevent that settler violence, ensure that there is clear accountability for the perpetrators and condemn this extremist rhetoric?
Minister reply
The hon. Member will have heard what the Prime Minister and other members of the Government have said in condemning settler violence. We will continue to stand up for the rule of law and international humanitarian law on every occasion we are able to do so.
Jim Shannon
DUP
Strangford
Question
Thank you, Mr Deputy Speaker. I thank the Minister for his replies, which are positive, and I know he means well. Can he provide an update on what progress has been made on discussions with Jordan, Egypt and surrounding nations to secure the free passage of medical aid? Will that be considered as a priority?
Minister reply
I thank the hon. Member for his comments. Discussions are going on with Jordan and Egypt on that very point, and I will go tonight to Egypt to try to further those discussions.
Stella Creasy
Lab Co-op
Walthamstow
Question
In setting out what a humanitarian pause would involve, the Secretary of State is setting out the challenge at the heart of this. Those of us who believe that we should be working alongside our international colleagues for an urgent ceasefire as the best way to end the Palestinian bloodshed and the horrors we are seeing in Gaza know that any ceasefire that does not involve the immediate return of hostages and the dismantling of Hamas is unlikely to be sustainable. The Minister talked about the conversations the new Foreign Secretary has had with the Secretary of State in America. The Foreign Secretary cannot be in front of us so that I can ask him this myself, so will the Minister urgently arrange a meeting with the Foreign Secretary for my constituent whose father is being held by Hamas, so that she may understand what this Government are doing for UK citizens who have hostage families?
Minister reply
I assume that the hon. Member has spoken to the crisis centre about that particular example. If she has not, I hope she will, and of course, we will afford all support we can to her constituent.
Question
The news of the burial in a mass grave of babies, children and other patients at Al-Shifa Hospital is heartbreaking, as was the news of the murder, mutilation and capture of babies, children and other innocent civilians in Israel on 7 October. I agree with the shadow Foreign Secretary, my right hon. Friend the Member for Tottenham (Mr Lammy), that the Government must now urge concrete steps to protect civilian life. Does the Minister agree that we need humanitarian pauses long enough to ensure that lifesaving aid reaches hospitals, as well as the release of hostages and the safe movement of innocent civilians?
Minister reply
We will undoubtedly continue to do everything we can to support humanitarian supplies getting in and to develop the concept of the pause to maximum effect. It is the role of the Government, through their very strong diplomatic connections with all parts of the region, to do everything they can to drive forward those humanitarian aims.
Question
Thank you, Mr Deputy Speaker. Hamas today conjured up memories of Christmas truces before the horror recommenced, but this is not soldiers in the trenches; it is 2.2 million people trapped in a tight urban environment, including women and children. Is that not the reason that a humanitarian pause is insufficient and there must be an immediate ceasefire?
Minister reply
The circumstances that the hon. Member describes are precisely the reason why the British Government put such a high priority on trying to advance those humanitarian aims, some of which, at least, can be advanced through the humanitarian pauses we are so trenchantly seeking.
Question
On 24 October, I asked the Minister about care for pregnant women and newborn babies in Gaza. Since then, approximately 3,400 children have been born amid devastation and destruction. Given that four-hour pauses are inadequate, what specific steps will his Department take to protect hospitals, deliver humanitarian aid, and stop premature deaths?
Minister reply
The hon. Member makes her point with great eloquence, underlining the effort and importance that the Government attach to trying to drive humanitarian support through these pauses to those who desperately need it.
Rachael Maskell
Lab Co-op
York Central
Question
The Government have been calling for a humanitarian pause, but the death toll and humanitarian crisis continue to rise. Can the Minister say what steps he is taking to formulate a political solution?
Minister reply
It is not just our Government who are arguing for this; it is Governments around the world. Everyone is focused on trying to bring this dreadful situation to a conclusion and drive towards a political process. That is what we need. The hon. Member asks what I am doing. I will go tonight to Egypt to further these discussions.
Janet Daby
Lab
Lewisham East
Question
The situation in Gaza cannot continue as it is, and everything needs to be done to bring this humanitarian devastation to an end. Will the Minister condemn acts of violence and extremism by Israeli settlers in the west bank?
Minister reply
As the hon. Lady will know, I hope, the Prime Minister and the Government have condemned settler violence and urged the Israeli Government to crack down on it.
Question
It is difficult to get aid into Gaza but there is no shortage of arms in the region. I have been contacted by constituents concerned about Britain’s role in supplying weapons to Israel. What assurances can the Minister give that weapons we supply are not being used for collective punishment?
Minister reply
I refer the hon. Lady to my response a few moments ago, in which I made clear that Britain has the most rigorous arms sale regime anywhere in the world—it is extremely important that we have that. I will look carefully to see whether there is any aspect of the hon. Lady’s question that suggests we should do more.
Question
On Friday, the Palestine Red Crescent Society said Israeli forces opened fire on Al-Quds Hospital's intensive care unit and Médecins Sans Frontières reported a sniper attacked patients inside Al-Shifa Hospital. What is happening is a stain on our collective humanity. I implore the Government to join others in calling for an immediate ceasefire.
Minister reply
I think the hon. Lady should put some greater hope in the achievement of humanitarian pauses, and then the development of those pauses. In the meantime, as she will be aware, it is the policy of both the Government and the Opposition that we should promote pauses, not a ceasefire.
Alex Norris
Lab Co-op
Nottingham North and Kimberley
Question
Will the Minister confirm that it is the Government’s position that there should be no compulsion for people to leave their homes in Gaza, and that when displaced by fighting, they must be allowed to return home as soon as possible?
Minister reply
The Government are acutely aware of the extraordinarily difficult situation in Gaza, and it is not for me to give advice from the Dispatch Box to people on the ground there who need to assess their situation for themselves within their community.
Question
The UN says that telecommunications will begin to fail as fuel runs out. Some lives have been saved when people were telephoned about imminent bombings. Can any steps be taken to deliver fuel specifically to telecom companies?
Minister reply
I have also seen those reports—they are extremely worrying, and they intensify the requirement to get fuel into Gaza as quickly as possible.
Helen Hayes
Lab
Dulwich and West Norwood
Question
The images of babies in Al-Shifa Hospital being kept warm with improvised methods are unbearable. The Minister spoke about fuel offered by the Israeli Government, but Hamas rejected it. Can I press him on what action he is taking to hold the Israeli Government accountable for stopping aid and maintaining international law?
Minister reply
It is true that 300 litres of fuel was offered yesterday and it was rejected by Hamas—that is the key point. Some fuel was offered. Obviously, we hope that more fuel can get through, but if Hamas refuse to allow it to be used for extremely important purposes, the position will not improve.
Rupa Huq
Lab
Ealing Central and Acton
Question
The new Foreign Secretary called Gaza an open-air prison in peacetime. While we all stood with Israel on 7 October, what are the limits of self-defence—a population forcibly displaced by donkey because there is no fuel, or communications blackouts? When will the UK join France, Spain, the UN and others in advocating a cessation of hostilities?
Minister reply
The hon. Lady makes an eloquent plea for us to advance on all the things that the Government, along with others, are doing everything they can to progress.
Question
While the whole House should condemn unreservedly the atrocities committed against Israeli civilians on 7 October by Hamas, do His Majesty’s Government believe that the ongoing response of the Israel Defence Forces remains proportionate, and will they keep the matter under review?
Minister reply
I draw the hon. Gentleman’s attention to what I said earlier about the work of the Israel Defence Forces, and indeed the training they undergo, which respects international humanitarian law and understands the obligations a military force owes to civilians.
Erith and Thamesmead
Question
I have constituents devastated by the continuing conflict. Hospitals and patients, particularly babies, must be protected and cannot become targets. Does the Minister agree that aid getting into Gaza is still completely insufficient, and that siege conditions are unacceptable?
Minister reply
As the hon. Lady suggests, it is completely insufficient. That is why we are arguing so trenchantly for the opening of not just Rafah, but Kerem Shalom, so that more aid can be got in for those who desperately need it.
Question
After the terrorist atrocity on 7 October and with an estimated 11,000 Palestinians dead, there is a new fear: forced and permanent displacement of the Palestinian people. Can the Minister say that neither this Government nor the international community regard that as acceptable in any way?
Minister reply
The hon. Lady once again demonstrates the dreadful position that the appalling act perpetrated by Hamas terrorists on 7 October has landed people in.
Alison McGovern
Lab
Birkenhead
Question
I think I heard the Minister correctly just now when he confirmed reports that all but one of the hospitals in the north of Gaza have stopped functioning. That news is catastrophic, and constituents want to know—as do we—that there is some hope this hell will come to an end. Can you describe the UK Government’s diplomatic strategy?
Minister reply
I will be travelling to Egypt tonight, but the discussions that are going on are about the hostages and the humanitarian situation, which I have explained extensively today. There are also discussions about the politics and how we move on. Those discussions are going on not just within the British Government, but with our partners, allies and like-minded parties overseas—in particular, through the extraordinary diplomatic reach of the British Foreign Office with all the countries in the region.
Rushanara Ali
Lab
Bethnal Green and Stepney
Question
In 2010, the then UK Prime Minister condemned the blockade of Gaza as a “prison camp”. The siege conditions have remained, and that is the context in which this war has claimed 11,000 civilian lives in Gaza following Hamas attacks costing 1,400 innocent lives and leading to hostage-taking. That could cause full-scale conflict between Israel and Hezbollah. It is imperative for our Government to work with international partners to seek cessation of hostilities and an enduring humanitarian ceasefire.
Minister reply
The hon. Member has set out with great eloquence the issue before us, and it underlines the absolute necessity to get back on to a political track as swiftly as we can.
Question
The Minister continues to say that he wants the Government of Israel to respect international human rights law, but last week he said that the Government could not make a determination whether that was happening. He said it would be for courts and lawyers to determine, so which courts and which lawyers, and how and when should a determination be made about whether Israel is complying with international humanitarian law?
Minister reply
The point I made last week is that it is not for Ministers to assert what is in effect a legal judgment and that it should be left to the courts. The hon. Member will be aware that there are many different people—I quoted, for example, the guardians of the Geneva convention and international humanitarian law—and I do not think there will be any difficulty in hearing from the judicial authorities on that matter.
Ian Byrne
Lab
Liverpool West Derby
Question
The call for a ceasefire is backed by multiple United Nations agencies, 700 NGOs, Pope Francis, more than 250 British lawyers, the 120 countries that voted in favour of a UN General Assembly motion and 76% of the public, and yesterday the Archbishop of Canterbury said that ‘the call for a ceasefire is a moral cry’. What will it take for the newly installed Secretary of State to heed these international calls and to support an immediate ceasefire?
Minister reply
I yield to no one in my profound respect for the Archbishop of Canterbury, but I think the reasons set out by both Government and Opposition Front Benchers about why that is not a practical approach should be listened to with care. Meanwhile, we will do everything we can to address the humanitarian situation.
Jim McMahon
Lab/Co-op
Oldham West, Chadderton and Royton
Question
Given the grave seriousness and scale of the humanitarian disaster unfolding in Gaza, it is vital that the length of humanitarian pauses is sufficient to allow aid and supplies to reach safely those who need them. In the statement, the Minister acknowledges that four hours is not enough, so the first question is: by the Government’s own assessment, how long is needed? Secondly, will the Government finally meet the shadow Foreign Secretary’s request for an international aid co-ordinator to be appointed to make sure that aid really reaches where it is needed?
Minister reply
The hon. Gentleman makes an important point about the co-ordination of aid, but principally we need to get it into the country. I have set out that this is about not just the length of the pauses, but the nature of how the aid is then distributed.
Emma Hardy
Lab
Kingston upon Hull West and Haltemprice
Question
I give thanks to Islamic Relief for the heroic work it is doing in getting aid to people in need in Gaza. However, this is not a natural disaster, and aid and supplies can be switched back on. Does the Minister agree that it is unacceptable for Israel not to lift its siege conditions?
Minister reply
I pay tribute, as the hon. Member did, to Islamic Relief, which I visited in Birmingham on Sunday with Andy Street, the West Midlands Mayor. Islamic Relief is doing extraordinary work still. It has access to fuel, and it has access to ways of making sure that water purification can continue to take place.
Question
Avi Shlaim is an Arab Jew, who was born in Baghdad, served in the Israel Defence Forces and is a retired professor of international affairs at the University of Oxford. He probably knows more about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict than most of us, and he says: ‘revenge is not a policy.’ Do the British Government reject the position of the Israeli Government that they should have overall security control of Gaza after current military operations?
Minister reply
I think we can all agree that revenge is not a policy, but given the appalling events of 7 October, I want to emphasise that the Israeli Government have an absolute right to self-defence.
Question
The Minister said that the arguments for and against a ceasefire have been fully rehearsed, but the situation in the hospitals and the ongoing slaughter of innocent civilians fleeing the hostilities illustrate that these humanitarian pauses are not working. The difficulty is that our constituents can see this terrible situation unfolding on the television every evening, and that is why they are writing to us in their thousands about it. What they want to know and what I want to know is this: how many more innocent people have to die before the UK Government will support a call for a ceasefire from both sides?
Minister reply
The Government and, indeed, Labour Front Benchers have explained why calls for a ceasefire do not work at the moment. We have explained the Israeli Government’s right to self-defence, but also that Hamas have made it clear that not only do they not want a ceasefire, but they want to repeat what happened on 7 October.
Jeff Smith
Lab
Manchester Withington
Question
The suffering of innocent civilians in Gaza is intolerable. The siege must end, the bombing must end and we need an end to hostilities. Does the Minister share my worry that the way the war on Hamas is being prosecuted—the constant bombing, the scale of the loss of life and suffering—runs the risk of radicalising people and driving them into the arms of Hamas and other terrorist extremists? Would he comment on that, and on whether that view is being expressed to the Israeli Government?
Minister reply
The British Government have many friends and a brilliant diplomatic network in the region, and we express ourselves without fear or favour to give the best advice that the British Government have.
Question
The Minister said that it is not for Ministers to confirm or ascertain what is and is not a war crime, but I remind him that Government Ministers rightly condemned Vladimir Putin for his war crimes in Ukraine very quickly after the invasion. The Minister mentioned the sanctity of hospitals, which are places protected under the Geneva convention, yet when I mentioned this exact issue last week, he did not accept my analysis of the Geneva convention. With reports of hospitals being bombed, IDF snipers firing into Al-Shifa and civilians, including children, being fired on while trying to evacuate under white flags, I repeat: what will it take for the Government and Opposition Front Benchers to call acts such as this what they are—war crimes?
Minister reply
I have set out very clearly during this statement and in responses to Members across the House the absolutely essential nature of the progress we seek to make. I hope that the hon. Member will accept that my answer this week will be no different from the answer I gave him on Wednesday last week.
Shadow Comment
David Lammy
Shadow Comment
The Shadow Minister, David Lammy, questioned the lack of presence from the new Foreign Secretary in the House. He criticised the absence of clarity on when the Foreign Secretary would address the House and highlighted concerns over fuel shortages affecting aid distribution to Gaza despite increased UK funding commitments.
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About House of Commons Debates
House of Commons debates take place in the main chamber of the House of Commons. These debates cover a wide range of topics including government policy, legislation, and current affairs. MPs from all parties can participate, question ministers, and hold the government accountable for its decisions.