Expressed grave concern over civilian casualties, condemned both rocket attacks by Hamas and airstrikes by Israel. Inquired about UK diplomatic efforts for an immediate ceasefire and humanitarian aid provision to Gaza. Urged the Government to urgently restart a peace process that upholds international law and ends illegal occupation.

Welcomed Minister’s support for Israel’s right to defend its citizens, asked whether the Government would consider proscribing Hamas as a whole alongside Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.

Called for immediate ceasefire, questioned whether the UK would recognise Palestine as a nation state. Raised concerns about potential war crimes and human rights law violations by both sides. Inquired about pressures to investigate breaches and suspending arms exports to Israel.

Reports indicate that at least 500 Hamas rockets—one in seven of the total number fired—have exploded within Gaza, and a Palestinian NGO has confirmed that eight Palestinians were killed by a short-falling rocket last week. Does my right hon. Friend agree that Hamas's rocket fire not only endangers Israelis but also causes grave harm to ordinary Gazans and must be condemned? Also, does he acknowledge the existential threats Israel faces from Hamas and Hezbollah, funded and backed by Iran, and argue against moral equivalence between democratic Israel and these terrorist organisations?

The number of Palestinian children who have died in Gaza has risen from 14 to 63 since last week. My heart is shattered now, and we need a ceasefire. Why did the UK not take the lead on this issue as France did with its UN resolution? If committed to lasting peace, why do they not recognise Palestine?

Welcoming the commitment to a two-state solution, will he update the House on the extent to which the UK is using its presidency of the G7 to help broker international consensus for a ceasefire?

With the destruction of schools, hospitals, and cultural centres, and the cutting of aid contributions internationally, does he agree that although UK policy is against illegal settlements and for a two-state solution, our lack of proactivity sometimes makes it look as if we do not really mean it? Netanyahu has been able to cement his position due to this.

Given that Iran’s role in this conflict undermines peace and stability throughout the middle east via its proxy terror group allies, what assurances can my right hon. Friend give today that discussions on resuscitating the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action agreement will not repeat past mistakes?

How many more Palestinian children have to be killed, homes reduced to rubble, schools and hospitals bombed before action necessary to force Israel to stop its war on Palestinians is taken? Surely it's time for UK weapons sales to Israel to be stopped and sanctions applied.

Given our history and legacy, could Britain lean into this more by calling for a US-led ceasefire? Palestinian elections have not taken place in over 16 years, and Hamas has no interest in working with Fatah or Israelis. Could neighbouring Muslim countries be invited to help encourage Palestinians to hold fresh elections?

Hamas is trying to make the Palestinian Authority and Mahmoud Abbas redundant, presenting itself as the ultimate defender of Jerusalem and al-Aqsa. Given our history in this country, will the Minister tell Hamas that the British Government will never do business with terrorists?

Welcoming the Prime Minister’s call for both sides to step back from the brink, does my right hon. Friend agree that continued escalation will only lead to further violence and more deaths? Both sides need to urgently down their arms.

Asked about the nature of Britain’s military relationship with Israel, including whether munitions and drone equipment sold to or by Britain have been used in attacks on Gaza and the West Bank. Also questioned the occupied territories' suffering.

Asked if the Minister is working with international counterparts to calm tensions and ensure peace, and to protect the Abraham accords.

Asked if the Minister recognises that long-term solutions include UK demanding end to forced evictions of Palestinians, respecting sacred sites, halting new settlements, adhering to international law, and recognising Palestine as a state.

Asked if Iran's involvement is a key factor in the lack of peace, suggesting Iran must be less disruptive.

Asked about plans for long-term solutions after ceasefire in Gaza, including support for healthcare and humanitarian aid.

Asked if moderate Palestinians should be supported and championed in addition to condemning Hamas.

Asked if it's unhelpful to take sides in the conflict, suggesting humanity should be the focus.

Asked about actual steps the Government will take to tackle causes of violence, beyond existing policies.

Asked if the Minister agrees that Hamas must be condemned and weakened, and co-existence projects supported.

I am utterly horrified by the scenes unfolding in Gaza, as are hundreds of my constituents who have contacted me to express their concerns. The UK Government are absolutely right to condemn Hamas’s rocket attacks, but they must also condemn in much stronger terms the completely disproportionate response from the Israeli Government, which has resulted in the loss of hundreds of civilian lives, including at least 63 children, coming on the back of sustained breaches of international law for many years. So I ask again: given the UK’s historic responsibility in the region, will the Minister urgently intensify and accelerate efforts with international partners to broker an immediate ceasefire by both sides, and will he suspend arms exports to Israel?

Yesterday, Israel facilitated dozens of trucks filled with humanitarian aid, including field hospitals and covid vaccines, to enter Gaza, yet Hamas deliberately fired repeat barrages of mortars at the Israeli crossing terminal, injuring an Israel Defence Forces soldier involved in the aid transfer and killing two foreign workers nearby. Will my right hon. Friend join me in condemning that appalling incident, which shows, as he stated earlier, that the actions of Hamas are categorically not in the interests of Palestinian people?

We heard the Minister’s statement of policy; we just do not understand the strategy for advancing it. He has to realise, like the rest of us, that there is no peace without justice. The way to disarm Hamas, to make progress towards peace and to ensure genuine calm and de-escalation can only be through the full realisation of Palestinian rights and the end of systematic discrimination against Palestinians in the Occupied Palestinian Territories. It is vital that the UK uses its influence with the United States to insist on a ceasefire. It is vital that the UK Government fully support the International Criminal Court investigation into all alleged war crimes, no matter which party stands accused, including those who are launching appalling rockets and those launching airstrikes. It is vital that we suspend the sale of arms to Israel until we know the outcomes of these prosecutions. Crucially, it is vital that the UK understands that the hope of peace is disappearing because people no longer believe that a two-state solution is possible. That is why we have to act now to sustain hope among Palestinians by ensuring recognition of the state of Palestine.

I thank the Minister for his robust support on behalf of the British Government for Israel’s right to defend itself from attack by a proscribed terrorist organisation. Listening to what he said about the prospects for peace, it is clear that Hamas has no interest in dialogue and moving towards peace. What can we do to strengthen the Palestinian Authority, which is a credible partner for peace, and to reduce the influence of Iran, which is trying to strengthen the hand of those who are Israel’s enemies and who do not wish to see peace for the Palestinians?

The nub of this issue, having visited both Israel and Palestine, is a colonial-era mindset of a gradual land grab: the forcible eviction of people from their homes; the building of illegal settlements; the extreme and shameless violation of human rights and international law; and the sheer suppression and humiliation of an entire nation. At this point in time, however, the efforts of the international community should be focused on securing an immediate end to the bloodshed and hostility. So can the Minister explain: where is the logjam and exactly how much aid have we managed to get through to the inhumanely blockaded Gaza?

Reports emerged yesterday that Hamas had launched a torpedo at Israel’s natural gas field in the Mediterranean and that an armed unmanned aerial vehicle caused an explosion at Israel’s Ashkelon power station. Does my right hon. Friend agree that Hamas’s ability to acquire these non-conventional weapons is a very worrying development? Will he join me in condemning Hamas for targeting energy infrastructure that will disrupt energy supplies not only in Israel, but in Gaza?

I associate myself and my party with the Minister’s opening words about the wholly unacceptable deaths and casualties, particularly of children. Self-evidently, the first step to peace is to stop the violence. President Biden has expressed support for the ceasefire, according to press reports. Can the Minister reassure me that all relevant international partners are actively working for an immediate ceasefire as a prelude to a substantial international attempt to secure a permanent and just solution?

Of Hamas’s many deplorable aspects, its cynical locating of military infrastructure within densely populated civilian areas is perhaps the worst. This was confirmed again yesterday, as Hamas was found to be launching rockets close to a school. Will my right hon. Friend join me in condemning this double war crime?

There are many underlying reasons for this most intractable of conflicts, most notably 54 years of occupation of Palestine and 14 years of the blockade of the Gaza Strip, but the most recent violence and devastating damage and loss of life has been inflamed by Israeli violations of the fourth Geneva convention in occupied east Jerusalem and the rest of the west bank. While I welcome the Government’s long-term focus on peace and the two-state solution, can the Minister tell us specifically what consequences the UK is advocating to the international community to deal with Israel’s illegal actions? What steps is he taking, beyond raising it in bilateral talks with Israeli Ministers, to ensure the end of all settlement building and the cancellation of all forcible evictions and demolitions in Sheikh Jarrah and elsewhere?