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Israel and Palestine
08 September 2026
Lead MP
Ed Miliband
Debate Type
Ministerial Statement
Tags
Community SecurityForeign AffairsBenefits & WelfareReligion & Faith
Other Contributors: 82
At a Glance
Ed Miliband raised concerns about israel and palestine 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
Community SecurityForeign AffairsBenefits & WelfareReligion & Faith
Government Statement
The Foreign Secretary opened his statement by expressing his personal connection to Israel and his unwavering support for the state of Israel, while also supporting the state of Palestine. He condemned the atrocities committed by Hamas and the threats posed by Iran to Israel and Jews worldwide. He announced sanctions against Hezbollah's financing arm, Al-Qard Al-Hassan, and the reimposition of major economic sanctions on Iran. The statement also addressed the issue of rising antisemitism in the UK and the government's commitment to invest £250 million in community security. He acknowledged the deepening Israeli settlement in the West Bank and the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza, and announced a new comprehensive sanctions regime to ban goods from illegal settlements. He also called for an end to the role of Hamas in the governance of Gaza and for the Palestinian Authority to accelerate reform. The Foreign Secretary pledged to continue providing humanitarian support to Gaza and to take further steps both independently and with international partners to address the ongoing crisis. He also highlighted the need for accountability for what has happened in Gaza and the importance of supporting judicial processes to determine allegations of war crimes and genocide. The statement concluded with the Foreign Secretary's commitment to uphold the values of the rule of law, freedom, and self-determination, and to work with others to confront the ongoing humanitarian crisis and uphold the viability of the two-state solution.
Thomas Tugendhat
Con
Tonbridge and Malling
Question
The Shadow Foreign Secretary questioned the practicality of the sanctions and the coherence of the policy, asking for confirmation that the sanctions will in reality be targeted and not affect all Israeli and Palestinian businesses. He also asked what conversations have been had with international partners to coordinate a full international action that might work, and what assessment has been made of the impact on domestic security and community cohesion in the UK. He further questioned the impact on security partnerships with both Israel and the US, and the instructions given to enforcement bodies to ensure that essential drugs will still be available.
Minister reply
The Foreign Secretary responded by emphasising the government's commitment to a targeted sanctions regime that would not affect the wider Israeli economy and the provision of essential goods. He acknowledged the importance of coordinating with international partners but argued that the UK's actions were necessary to address the ongoing crisis in the region. He also stated that instructions have been given to enforcement bodies to ensure that essential drugs will still be available to patients.
Thomas Tugendhat
Con
Tonbridge and Malling
Question
The MP questioned the coherence of the sanctions policy, the impact on domestic security and community cohesion, the effect on security partnerships with Israel and the US, and the instructions given to enforcement bodies to ensure medical supplies are protected. He also asked about the accreditation of diplomats to the Palestinian embassy if Hamas wins the elections.
Minister reply
The Foreign Secretary rejected the notion of making Israel a pariah state and emphasised the importance of protecting Jews across Britain and the world. He stated that the sanctions will focus on the settlements in the occupied territories and will not affect Green Line Israel. He noted the international coalition assembled to support the policy and assured that medical supplies will be protected. He also highlighted Britain's influence and the need to act against injustice.
Emily Thornberry
Lab
Islington South and Finsbury
Question
The MP congratulated the Foreign Secretary on taking a strong stance against the illegal building of settlements in Palestine and requested a meeting with the minister and officials to discuss the speedy implementation of the sanctions.
Minister reply
The Foreign Secretary expressed gratitude and stated his willingness to work with the Committee on the speedy implementation of the sanctions. He acknowledged the support from Members in all parts of the House and thanked campaigners outside the House.
Calum Miller
LD
Greenwich and Woolwich
Question
The MP thanked the Foreign Secretary for the statement and expressed support for the measures. He discussed the recent events in Palestine, the threats to the two-state solution, and the need for a robust response. He asked about the International Court of Justice's role, enforcement measures, the ban on arms exports, and the UK's stance on Palestinian and Israeli elections and disarmament.
Minister reply
The minister thanked the MP for his support and outlined the UK's support for the ICJ's work. He clarified that the ban on arms exports includes direct parts to Israel’s F-35 programme but not indirect parts to the global supply chain. He also stated that the UK will extend the global human rights regime to cover breaches of international humanitarian law and will work to ensure the implementation of the 20-point plan.
Liam Byrne
Lab
Birmingham, Hodge Hill
Question
The MP welcomed the statement and inquired about the legal powers required to implement the full ban on goods, services, and investment to the occupied territories.
Minister reply
The minister confirmed the implementation of a new sanctions regime under the SAMLA regime to cover settlements in the occupied territories, ensuring action on both goods and services. He emphasised the importance of action on services to make a real difference to settlement expansion.
Edward Leigh
Con
Gainsborough
Question
The MP expressed support for the statement and questioned whether the Israeli Government could differentiate between general trade and trade to illegal settlements, and whether this would affect intelligence relationships.
Minister reply
The minister thanked the MP for his support and emphasised that actions by the Israeli Government have made Israel less secure, and that upholding international law is necessary for the security of the people of Israel. He acknowledged the MP's longstanding support for Israel.
Sarah Champion
Lab
Rotherham
Question
I welcome the entirety of this statement, particularly the acceptance of the ICJ advisory recommendation that Israel is illegally occupying Palestine. The ICJ recommendation is broad and damning. It is not just about settlements; it is about taking Palestinian natural resources, forced transfer, taking Palestinian land, taking their goods and taking their businesses. It is also about stopping Palestinian trade and the free movement of people, and about imposing Israeli laws on the Palestinian people. Has the Foreign Secretary given any consideration to moving a motion at the UN Security Council to protect Palestinian rights? Is he doing anything to support the Palestinian Authority to be able to govern effectively? Is he doing more to urge Israeli politicians and the Israeli Government to enable journalists and politicians to enter Gaza, so that we can see for ourselves exactly what is going on?
Minister reply
My hon. Friend has played an incredibly important role in the advocacy on these issues, including through the International Development Committee, and I take all her points on board. One of the things that we will seek to do through events that will take place at the United Nations—not just the conference we are holding with Jordan, but other events that we will be announcing shortly—is precisely to try to get at these issues. The situation in Gaza is so urgent and so desperate that we must do everything we can to act.
Julian Lewis
Con
New Forest East
Question
Does the Foreign Secretary agree that this action is unlikely to affect the policy of the Netanyahu Government? As I hardly need to remind him, Israel is a parliamentary democracy. Has he reason to believe that this action might affect the policy of the Israeli Opposition, and did he have any contact with the Israeli Opposition parties before coming to that conclusion?
Minister reply
Absolutely; we talk with all partners in Israel. I do not want to in any sense interfere in that election. The election is for the Israeli people to make their own decisions about their future. I have set out the policy of the British Government, and I have made it clear that our quarrel is not with the Israeli people, but with the policies of the Netanyahu Government. I said something in my statement that I would just highlight to the right hon. Member, which is that we will assess the actions of any Israeli Government in the future whether on Gaza or the west bank.
Naseem Shah
Lab
Bradford West
Question
I place on record my support for the Foreign Secretary for taking this strong stance today. As the Chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee, my right hon. Friend the Member for Islington South and Finsbury (Emily Thornberry) said, “At last!” Finally, we can breathe, but we still cannot breathe like the Palestinians deserve to be able to breathe while they are still being occupied, and it is so welcome that our Government have taken this position. The situation needed Britain to lead, and today Britain has led. I am equally proud of our Government for taking this stance. Does the Foreign Secretary agree that Britain needs to continue to show this leadership to ensure that the two-state solution happens and that the Palestinians are free of occupation?
Minister reply
I agree with my hon. Friend, and I again praise her for her work on this issue. I am grateful for the kind words about my statement, but I feel a deep sense of humility when compared, for example, with people I have met such as the doctor—a British paediatrician—who was going to Gaza to try to help children and people who are sick. There are so many people in our country who have not only campaigned on this issue, but actually gone there and tried to make a difference, and I think we should recognise them today.
Oliver Dowden
Con
Hertsmere
Question
Many of my Jewish constituents have very grave concerns about the conduct of the current Israeli Government. However, Israel is the Jewish homeland, and I think many of them are concerned about the content of the statement, the highly political tone of the briefing around it and its timing before Israelis themselves can decide in an election—a democratic election. In all of that, the message they are getting is that the current Government no longer regard Israel as a friend, and that heaps pressure on an already beleaguered Jewish population. What does the Foreign Secretary say to my constituents, many of whom are simply giving up on this country?
Minister reply
I do not agree with the right hon. Member. I respect his point of view. I think we have to distinguish in this debate, as I have said, between Jews in Britain and indeed across the world and the Israeli Government, but we also have to distinguish between the Israeli people and the Israeli Government. There is a whole diversity of opinion in Israel on these questions. I just want to say on the election, because it was raised by the shadow Foreign Secretary as well, that I obviously listened to those people who said, “Let’s wait. Let’s wait even longer.” I do not believe we can wait. I believe the situation is too urgent. Look at E1, where the tender finishes before the election. If I can put it this way—I do this carefully—we cannot outsource our political and moral responsibilities to the Israeli Opposition. It is our responsibility to decide what we accept, what we consider legal and what we do.
Question
I thank the Secretary of State for his statement, and I am supportive of further measures on sanctions against the current extremist regime in Israel, in concert with our international allies. As we approach the Jewish high holy days, however—and to protect the religious freedom of British Jews, who bear no responsibility for the actions of the Israeli Government—I would like some assurances from him that there is sufficient clarity on imports, particularly agricultural products such as etrogim, which are a feature of the festival of Sukkot, so that there are not unintended consequences of the implementation of today’s announcements as they take effect.
Minister reply
My hon. Friend asks a really important question—I am glad she did—and I said in my statement that there will be suitable religious exemptions from the import ban. Some hon. Members may wonder why it takes six to nine months to bring this in. It is precisely because we want to get it right, and getting it right means a proper dialogue with the Jewish community.
Layla Moran
Lib Dem
Oxford West and Abingdon
Question
I have to say that I shed a tear—not necessarily at the sanctions part of the statement, but the part where the Government said that the occupation is illegal. Ever since my election as the first British-Palestinian MP, I have stood up to ask that question in statements such as this—I do not speak for the people of Palestine; I speak here for the people of Oxford West and Abingdon, but I could only ever speak for myself—and, frankly, I felt gaslit every single time I could not get a straight answer, so for that I say thank you. Now that Britain is standing tall on the world stage again—the United Nations was founded in Westminster in 1946, and we are applying international law without fear or favour again—how does the Foreign Secretary intend to work with Members across this House so that we can all play our part in ensuring that that institution and ours stand tall forever more?
Minister reply
If I may say so, I find the question the hon. Member asked and what she said incredibly moving, and I am very glad she asks that question. Let me say to her and Members across this House that I undertake to work together on these questions. I know that a lot of work has been going on before I became Foreign Secretary, including with Ministers, but I think there now is a real opportunity to work together across parties, and I say from this Dispatch Box that I will make sure that happens.
Question
I thank the Secretary of State for his statement, which I know has the support of British Jewish organisations such as Yachad and Progressive Judaism. I was with the Father of the House when, in an incident he has talked about, gun-wielding settlers came to visit us while we were in the west bank, and they had British accents, which is distressing. The Secretary of State said in his statement that this is a “prelude to justice”. Will the Government consider looking at universal jurisdiction so that British citizens who are supporting the illegal occupation will face the full force of the law?
Minister reply
I think we have sent a clear message today about those involved—businesses and individuals—in settlement activity. I will look at the point my hon. Friend has raised and write to him.
Bob Blackman
Con
Harrow East
Question
This is a sad day for the UK-Israel relationship, given the risks of what the Foreign Secretary is doing. Affecting the Israeli elections by making even moderate politicians even more hawkish is a huge risk. Equally, this is strengthening the Arabs’ view that suddenly they can actually destroy the state of Israel, and indeed giving a victory to the BDS movement, which will look at full sanctions. He will know that it is very difficult to differentiate between products and services on either side of the green line, and this runs the risk of a full boycott of Israeli goods. What assessment has he made of the impact of his proposal, and what discussions has he had with his opposite number in Israel?
Minister reply
There were a lot of questions there, but I really do utterly reject the premise of the hon. Member’s question, which is that this is somehow about the destruction of the state of Israel. Actually, my real fear is that the path the Israeli Government have embarked upon is undermining Israel’s security. I say to him very gently that it must be possible for us as a House, at the level of principle, to understand the difference between green-line Israel—within the 1967 borders—and the occupied territories. If we conclude that the settlements and the occupation are illegal, the right thing to do is to act.
Question
On behalf of all communities in Glasgow South West, I thank my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary and the Prime Minister for their global leadership. That leadership means we call the atrocities in the west bank terrorism and ethnic cleansing, and that we continue to support the Gazans—with full fervour—with anything they require. On Gaza, he knows that many of my NHS colleagues have worked and served there, so may I ask him to continue to support them, and to provide medical aid not only by bringing children here, but by making sure there is better infrastructure closer to home?
Minister reply
I thank my hon. Friend for the conversations we had in the run-up to this statement. I make this open offer to people across the House: the Minister for the Middle East, the hon. Member for Cardiff South and Penarth (Stephen Doughty), and I will work with Members in the run-up to the work we will do at the UN General Assembly. We have an important opportunity at UNGA to try to make a difference with the situation in Gaza. I look forward to working with him and others across the House on that question.
Question
The MP congratulates the Foreign Secretary on his words, highlighting the food insecurity in Gaza and the significant restrictions on essential goods. She asks about the assessment of the current interpretation of dual-use restrictions in Gaza.
Minister reply
The minister acknowledges the important point raised, criticises the blocking of dual-use goods, and calls on the Government of Israel to stop such practices.
Question
The MP thanks the Foreign Secretary for the active stance and invites him to meet with doctors to discuss preventing the deliberate targeting of health professions.
Minister reply
The minister agrees with the point and confirms willingness to meet with doctors and others to discuss the issue.
Kit Malthouse
Con
North West Hampshire
Question
The MP applauds the Foreign Secretary for his steps to deter Israeli ambitions but expresses perplexity about the nine-month wait and the willingness to take further steps if the deterrent fails. He also questions the UK's stance on the impartial application of international law and calls for a UK-led investigation into the murder of World Central Kitchen staff.
Minister reply
The minister acknowledges the concerns, expresses willingness to take further steps, and confirms the commitment to international law and the impartial application of it. He also agrees with the need for a UK-led investigation into the World Central Kitchen incident.
Afzal Khan
Lab
Manchester, Gorton
Question
The MP welcomes the statement and the Foreign Secretary's support for the International Criminal Court's case on genocide in Gaza and asks about discussions with allies to encourage more countries to support the ICJ's judicial process.
Minister reply
The minister confirms the UK's strong support for the ICJ and the work it does, including the work on the case in Gaza.
Brendan O'Hara
SNP
Argyll and Bute
Question
The MP welcomes the statement and questions the symbolic nature of the sanctions and the potential for further action.
Minister reply
The minister acknowledges the previous actions taken by the Government and confirms that the sanctions regime is intended to make a substantive difference, with the scope to be reviewed.
Question
The MP welcomes the statement and the moral, legal, and ethical thread running through the Foreign Secretary's statement, and questions the ICC arrest warrants.
Minister reply
The minister praises the MP for her work and confirms the UK's support for the ICC and the need to uphold international law.
Mark Pritchard
Con
The Wrekin
Question
The MP welcomes the statement and the moral, legal, and ethical thread, and asks about the action required to reconcile the positions on the timing of recognition of a Palestinian state.
Minister reply
The minister acknowledges the need for action and emphasises the importance of acting consistently with international law and upholding the viability of a future two-state solution.
Question
The MP welcomes the measures and questions the specific action planned to address the withholding of funds by Israel.
Minister reply
The minister confirms that these issues are raised with Israeli counterparts and emphasises the importance of releasing the funds withheld from the Palestinian Authority.
Question
The MP welcomes the statement and questions the specific action planned to address the involvement of British companies in settlement expansion.
Minister reply
The minister acknowledges the issue and confirms that the sanctions regime will address the construction, financing, and facilitation of settlement expansion.
Hilary Benn
Lab
Leeds Central
Question
May I congratulate my right hon. Friend on both the substance and the moral clarity of his statement today? Last weekend, Mike Huckabee, the United States ambassador to Israel, condemned Israeli settler violence as terrorism. Does my right hon. Friend therefore share the widespread concern that the IDF, rather than taking action to arrest these terrorists, is all too often to be seen watching—or even facilitating, as has been widely reported—while Palestinians’ homes are attacked and their properties seized?
Minister reply
My right hon. Friend speaks with enormous distinction on these and many other issues, and I thank him for his contribution. He is right. I urge Members in all parts of the House to read the accounts of what is happening in the west bank and what is happening in relation to the settlers. It is impossible to avoid the conclusion that members of the IDF are anything other than complicit in what is happening—episode after episode that has been documented of what is actually happening on the ground.
Desmond Swayne
Con
New Forest West
Question
I join that long list of UK Ministers who have raised, at the very highest level in Israel, the most egregious practices in the west bank, designed specifically to prevent a two-state solution, only for Israeli policy to double down. Accordingly, I congratulate the Secretary of State.
Minister reply
I thank the right hon. Gentleman for his contribution. His experience speaks to the frustration of Ministers on both sides of this House who have repeatedly tried to make a difference, pleading with Israeli Ministers to see what was going on and to act on it, and who have been rebuffed. That is what has led to today’s announcement.
Question
I hope the whole House will join me in condemning the personal attacks and smears that the Foreign Secretary faced over the weekend. [Hon. Members: “Hear, hear.”] I congratulate my right hon. Friend and the Prime Minister for the strong stance they have taken. Does he agree that the acts of violence perpetrated by the settlers in the west bank must be called out for what they are: settler terrorism designed to forcibly remove Palestinian communities?
Minister reply
My hon. Friend is absolutely right. The world’s eyes have rightly been on the crisis in Gaza. The world’s eyes have to be on that crisis and also on the appalling settler terrorism we are seeing in the west bank. I talked about it in my statement, but the fact that a former Israeli Prime Minister described it as ethnic cleansing should give people—not just in this House, but in Israel—proper pause about what is actually happening.
Dwyfor Meirionnydd
Question
It is welcome that the UK is finally banning trade with illegal settlements in Palestine and it is right that we no longer condone economic tolerance for these settlements, which fly in the face of international law and the sovereignty of Palestine. But if the sanctions are to be truly more than symbolic, can the Secretary of State tell us how the ban will be enforced and how we will ensure that goods from illegal settlements are not simply re-labelled, or services concealed within contractual sleight of hand, to get round his proposals?
Minister reply
Like all our sanctions regimes, fines and action will be taken against companies that breach them. We are widely known across the world for the strength of our sanctions regime. It is really important to underline the point that, by using the SAMLA powers, these will be tough sanctions, and it will be absolutely clear that there will be penalties for breaching them.
Question
I strongly welcome the Government’s new sanctions, which are the right and moral approach to the crimes we have been seeing and continue to see in the west bank. The Foreign Secretary will have seen the comments from Israeli Minister Ben-Gvir that, in response to the sanctions, Israel should recognise Argentina’s claims on the Falkland Islands. Will the Foreign Secretary now make it clear that such threats will not stop the UK upholding international law and the right of people to self-determination, whether that is in the Falkland Islands or in the Occupied Palestinian Territories?
Minister reply
Obviously, those comments are absurd and wrong. The Falkland Islands are British and will remain so because that is what the islanders want. Those comments show a complete lack of understanding and comprehension of the injustice and unlawfulness that is going on in relation to the occupied territories, because it is an occupation against the will of the people there. The Falkland Islands are British, as I say, because that is what the Falkland Islanders want.
Andrew Murrison
Con
South West Wiltshire
Question
Since the Foreign Secretary is not going to get the co-operation, fulsome or otherwise, of the Israeli state in differentiating goods and services made in the settlements from those that are assembled, repackaged, produced and grown in Israel itself, how is he going to distinguish the one from the other?
Minister reply
That will be the responsibility of British businesses and other businesses that want to import into this country. I want to underline this point. That is the point of the sanctions regime we are bringing in. Just to develop the point a bit more, it is likely to be based on the postcodes of where the settlements are. Companies will have to say that the goods they are bringing in do not come from those areas.
Question
I support the Government’s complete opposition to the expansion of E1, and their opposition to the violent settlers who put the two-state solution genuinely at risk. I just want to press the Foreign Secretary further on his comments about BDS. What further specific details can he give this House that these measures will not be interpreted as support for that movement, or indeed—following on from questions from others—spill over into a de facto ban on other Israeli goods? We know that the BDS movement is supported by people who think that the Jewish people and the Jewish people alone have no right to self-determination.
Minister reply
I thank my hon. Friend for his contribution. I also thank him for the conversations we have had in the run-up to the statement; they have been important. I will say a couple of things. We absolutely oppose the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions movement against Israel. This is about settlements in the occupied territories. In answer to the question from the right hon. Member for North West Hampshire (Kit Malthouse) on why this will take six to nine months, it is precisely to get the regime right so that it does not affect or impinge on green-line Israel.
Question
I thank the Foreign Secretary for his statement. On behalf of my constituents, I am asking him not to overlook the Palestinian healthcare workers, including Dr Abu Safiya, who are being held in Israeli prisons, and for him to work to secure their release.
Minister reply
The hon. Lady raises a very, very important case, and I am glad that she has done. I am happy to look at it and will endeavour to do everything I can to make a difference.
Rushanara Ali
Lab
Bethnal Green and Bow
Question
I thank the Foreign Secretary for his incredibly moving and courageous statement. He has been a friend of Israelis and Palestinians. When he was Leader of the Opposition, he and the Labour party recognised Palestinian statehood, and I am proud of the fact that this Labour Government have recognised Palestinian statehood. We know that at least 17 companies linked to illegal Israeli settlements were found to hold 125 UK public sector contracts worth £2.1 billion, so does the Foreign Secretary agree that without sanctions, we will not be able to take the necessary action to protect a viable two-state solution and ensure that we see the day when we have a Palestinian state?
Minister reply
My hon. Friend has been an incredibly powerful advocate on the issue for a long period of time, and I welcome her words. She is absolutely right: I am afraid that inaction is simply abdicating our responsibilities for what we see happening before our eyes, and what has been eloquently described by Members on both sides of this House. That is why we have taken this action, which is designed to make a difference and help to save the two-state solution.
Question
I draw Members’ attention to my entry in the Register of Members’ Financial Interests. The middle east and north Africa contain multiple wars, protracted civil conflicts and severe humanitarian crises. Of the 193 UN member states, what exactly does the Foreign Secretary think explains the relentless focus—morning, noon and night—on the one Jewish state, a country covering just 0.01% of the world’s surface? Does he really think that all the antisemitic, Corbynista, activist crowd, and unintegrated, sectarian, immigrant groups, will again vote for his party if he panders to their unhealthy obsession?
Minister reply
I regret the tone of the hon. Gentleman’s question, honestly. He needs to take a sober look at what has happened in relation to Israel and Palestine, and what is happening in Gaza and the west bank. From Members on his own side, as well as across the House, he has heard the huge injustices eloquively described. My view is that we need to be tackling injustice across the world, but we cannot ignore the centrality of Israel and Palestine—both our historic relationship with Israel and our responsibilities, and the suffering of the Palestinian people. Frankly, in terms of our geopolitical interests, we will never have stability in the middle east without a two-state solution. For all those reasons, it is right that we act.
Question
All of us want to see an end to violence in the west bank. The Government should challenge the Israeli Government, but also the Palestinian Authority. I find myself asking, “Will these sanctions bring peace any closer and how will they impact Britain?” Given that other anti-Israel measures have failed to have the impact that the Government seek, what difference does the Secretary of State think this new round will make? Given our deep trade relationships in areas like defence and health, as well as warnings about possible conflict with US policy, is there not a risk that British interests could be harmed as a result of this announcement?
Minister reply
I think the answer to my hon. Friend’s question is no. I want to correct him on one thing: these are not anti-Israel policies. This is about the occupied territories, which we as a Government, along with the ICJ, have found were unlawfully occupied—it is really important to say that. Once we decide that it is an unlawful occupation, I do believe that, as a matter of principle and morality, then other things follow about the economic relationships that we choose to have.
Question
The MP warmly welcomed the statement, acknowledging the delay and the need for action. She urged the Foreign Secretary to speed up the implementation of sanctions, given the ongoing genocide in Gaza and the ethnic cleansing in the West Bank.
Minister reply
The Foreign Secretary thanked the MP for her kind words and reiterated his commitment to acting as quickly as possible. He clarified that while the timeline is six to nine months, the government will proceed faster if possible. He also highlighted the importance of extending the global human rights regime to international humanitarian law violations for quicker action.
Question
The MP thanked the Foreign Secretary for his statement and discussed the need for urgent action to protect and provide medical aid to the tens of thousands of unaccompanied children in Gaza facing a healthcare crisis.
Minister reply
The Foreign Secretary acknowledged the healthcare crisis in Gaza and promised to do as much as possible, both individually and in collaboration with other countries. He mentioned discussions with the Jordanian Foreign Minister on holding an event at the UN General Assembly to address the situation.
Jeremy Corbyn
Lab
Islington North
Question
The MP called on the Foreign Secretary to recognise the actions of campaigners and to call on Israel to withdraw from Gaza in totality. He also questioned the sharing of intelligence and use of RAF bases and facilities in relation to the sanctions.
Minister reply
The Foreign Secretary agreed on the need for Israel to withdraw from Gaza and for Hamas to disarm, emphasising the importance of the 20-point plan. He assured that the UK is not helping with the occupation but has important security relationships with Israel.
Preet Kaur Gill
Lab
Birmingham, Edgbaston
Question
The MP raised concerns about the elevated threat facing British Jews during Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, asking what steps the Government has taken to ensure these measures do not contribute to further antisemitism or undermine the security of Jewish communities.
Minister reply
The Foreign Secretary reassured the MP that the government has made significant investments in the security of Jewish people across Britain and reiterated that no British Jew should be held responsible for the actions of the Israeli Government.
Christine Jardine
Lib Dem
Edinburgh West
Question
The MP welcomed the substance and tone of the Foreign Secretary's remarks and asked about steps to allow UK banks and corporate institutions to audit their customer base to ensure proper supply chain handling.
Minister reply
The Foreign Secretary emphasised the importance of protecting trade with green-line Israel and financial services within it. He stated that the government will look at all issues as part of their sanctions regime.
Yasmin Qureshi
Lab
Bolton South East
Question
The MP congratulated the Prime Minister and the Foreign Secretary for their actions on Israel's illegal occupation of the West Bank and Gaza and asked if the government would retreat from doing this despite pressure from Washington or Tel Aviv.
Minister reply
The Foreign Secretary confirmed that the government will proceed with the announced plans, emphasising that Britain will decide based on national interest and values.
Question
The MP argued that the sanctions are a grave mistake, suggesting they would embolden antisemitism, endanger the relationship with the US, and lead to tit-for-tat sanctions from the Israeli Government.
Minister reply
The Foreign Secretary criticised the MP's statement, asserting that it was irresponsible and misleading. He clarified that the government is committed to its actions and reiterated that no British Jew is responsible for the policies of the Israeli Government.
Debbie Abrahams
Lab
Oldham East and Saddleworth
Question
The MP thanked the Foreign Secretary for his statement and emphasised the importance of seeing everyone as equal before the law and in terms of human rights. She also asked for details on the next steps around the SAMLA statutory instrument.
Minister reply
The Foreign Secretary confirmed that the government will proceed with making the statutory instrument happen. He also highlighted the importance of tackling antisemitism in schools and elsewhere in society.
Andrew George
Lib Dem
St Ives
Question
The MP welcomed the Foreign Secretary's remarks and asked for more details about the sanctions on British banks and citizens who are complicit in the West Bank.
Minister reply
The Foreign Secretary reiterated that the sanctions will target specific companies or entities involved in financing, construction, or infrastructure of settlement expansion in the West Bank.
Tulip Siddiq
Lab
Hampstead and Kilburn
Question
While appreciating the minister's statement, Siddiq raised concerns about the safety of British Jewish children and the education access of displaced Palestinian children. She also expressed pride in the minister’s mother for her advocacy.
Minister reply
Miliband acknowledged both issues, stating that the government would address the safety of Jewish children and the education access of displaced Palestinian children.
Question
Sultana criticised the government for continuing to support Israel despite its actions, including genocide in Gaza, and urged the government to take stronger measures such as a full arms sales ban and economic sanctions.
Minister reply
Miliband rejected Sultana's statement, asserting that the government has taken significant action and that her claims were inaccurate.
Stella Creasy
Lab
Walthamstow
Question
Creasy thanked the minister for his commitment to a two-state solution and his stance on international law. She also asked for reassurance that the government would not bend to pressure and would only consider reversing the settlement ban if Israel halted the E1 development and settler violence.
Minister reply
Miliband reassured Creasy that the government would act in its national interest based on its values and would not be swayed by external pressure.
Question
Slade inquired about the impact of the settlement ban on the supply of life-saving drugs from Israel, asking for assurance that these would not be affected.
Minister reply
Miliband confirmed that the ban would not affect the supply of life-saving drugs from within the pre-1967 borders of Israel.
Question
Yang praised the minister for his principled stand and asked if he would continue to resist threats and intimidation.
Minister reply
Miliband affirmed his commitment to standing firm on the issue despite threats and intimidation.
Sammy Wilson
DUP
East Antrim
Question
Wilson questioned whether the government's actions were politically motivated and expressed concerns about the economic and diplomatic repercussions.
Minister reply
Miliband rejected Wilson's claims and urged him to meet with the Palestinian ambassador to understand the Palestinian perspective.
Alex Sobel
Lab
Leeds North West
Question
Sobel requested a visa-lite or visa-free regime for Gazan students and questioned the government's stance on goods from occupied territories.
Minister reply
Miliband stated that they would continue to look at ways to facilitate the entry of Gazan students and questioned the logic of maintaining economic ties with occupied territories.
Question
Chambers asked about sanctions on Israeli Ministers endorsing violence against Palestinians.
Minister reply
Miliband confirmed that two Israeli Ministers had already been sanctioned and that they would continue to review their sanctions regime.
Clive Betts
Lab
Sheffield South East
Question
Betts inquired about the timeline for implementing sanctions compared to other countries such as the Netherlands.
Minister reply
Miliband indicated that the UK would continue to work with its allies to implement sanctions and would ask the Dutch government about the timeline of their implementation.
Question
Adam cited a quote about the inevitability of accountability for war crimes and asked about the government's efforts to hold war criminals accountable.
Minister reply
Miliband affirmed the government's commitment to accountability for war crimes through the international courts.
Richard Burgon
Lab
Leeds East
Question
Burgon urged the minister to continue resisting pressure to avoid applying international law to Israel and to push for the full implementation of the ICJ ruling.
Minister reply
Miliband stated that the government would be guided by international law and would continue to pursue accountability and justice.
Question
Van Mierlo asked about steps the government was taking to ensure that the words of schoolchildren advocating for Palestinian children's right to education are heard.
Minister reply
Miliband stated that the best way to help Palestinian children is to achieve a two-state solution and congratulated the schoolchildren for their advocacy.
Question
I thank the Secretary of State for his statement and the long-awaited announcement, but may I press him on the UK’s existing intelligence and security partnership with Israel? Given that experts have said that RAF spy planes over Gaza and Lebanon this year have provided visuals and intelligence to the Israeli military shortly before massive air strikes, can he confirm whether the UK Government are assessing the UK’s legal position regarding the 2020 UK-Israel military co-operation agreement?
Minister reply
We do not comment on intelligence and security matters, but I can honestly assure my hon. Friend that we are not involved in the occupation or actions in Gaza and the west bank. That is not the nature of our intelligence and security co-operation with Israel.
Question
May I join many hon. Members across the House in thanking the Foreign Secretary and the Prime Minister for the statement and this vital change in Government policy? However, many will ask why this action has taken so long, since the ICJ advisory opinion was issued in July 2024 and ethnic cleansing and genocide have continued both in the west bank and Gaza. Will the Foreign Secretary explain why it has taken the Labour Government so long to act? Will they now fully comply with their obligations under the ICJ advisory opinion? Will they conduct a review of British policy of non-compliance with international law in Israel?
Minister reply
I say bluntly to the hon. Member that we should have acted earlier. It has taken the new Prime Minister to come in and recognise the gravity of the situation and the degree of public concern on these questions. We concur with the ICJ’s conclusions on the unlawfulness of the occupation and we will ensure that we abide by what that implies.
Question
I thank the Secretary of State for his strong statement and extend to him the gratitude of my constituents who have already been in touch with me. I have spoken before in this place about the villagers of Jayyous in the west bank who have been living under constant intimidation and fear, with farmers unable to harvest their crops and children unable to get to school. Does he agree that the statement sends an important message to the people of Jayyous and those across Palestine that they are not alone and that their calls for solidarity and the rule of law to be upheld have been heard?
Minister reply
I feel moved by what my hon. Friend has asked. I really thank her for the work that she has been doing. As I thought long and hard about the statement and some of the words I used—one has to weigh one’s words carefully—I thought precisely that those people who are under, for example, settler terrorism and the attempts at ethnic cleansing deserve at least the truth to be told about what they are facing. So, absolutely, this is in part an expression of solidarity with the people my hon. Friend talks about.
Question
I warmly welcome the Foreign Secretary’s statement and its tone, and especially the fact that he referred clearly to ethnic cleansing and an illegal occupation. We have to stop the E1 settlement, which is a red line for the two-state solution, so I welcome these sanctions. Although we had been told for a long time that they were not possible, it is really good to see them today. On the sanctions, there will be Israeli companies exporting from the green-line area and occupied territories; we will be relying on their honesty to declare that. Likewise, military hardware made in the UK might go to green-line Israel, but it might be deployed in the occupied territories. Will he explain how he can guarantee that the sanctions will work?
Minister reply
Let me deal with those two issues. First, one thing that I said in my statement was that the declaration on the occupation means we will now look at all arms licences to see whether they materially contribute to the occupation; if they do, they will not be allowed. Secondly, part of the point of a sanctions regime is proper enforcement, and we will do that.
Andy McDonald
Lab
Middlesbrough
Question
My father served in Gaza from 1945 to 1947, and the position was the same then: this country had failed to discharge its responsibilities to the people of Palestine. But I commend the Foreign Secretary for his statement and the courage and clarity of both him and the Prime Minister in making it. It is broadly welcomed, and massively welcomed by the Palestinian people and those who stand up for them. May I ask him to move with all pace on the regulations that he will introduce? Since the Government now acknowledge that the occupation is illegal, surely the already granted licences for arms used in the occupation should be suspended.
Minister reply
I can assure my hon. Friend on his last point: all licences that materially contribute to the occupation will not be allowed. That is why we now have a double lock in relation not only to Gaza but to the occupation. On the speed of action, we want to move as speedily as we can with these measures.
Question
I was elected to the House not just because people saw injustice or hypocrisy from the previous Labour leadership but because this topic became a litmus test of credibility, integrity and morality for the British people, who could see what was taking place in Gaza and in the west bank. I saw the attacks on the Foreign Secretary, who was referred to as a “Jew hater” when he came out with this proposal, and the disgusting comments by the American ambassador, labelling him often as antisemitic for talking about justice and the rights of Palestinians. Will he work with colleagues on this side of the House so that we can forge stronger relationships between British Muslims and British Jews, preventing those actors and agitators—even in this House—who want to sow division in our communities?
Minister reply
I undertake to work with Members across the House on these questions; more unites us than divides us on them, and we do need to act. I say to the hon. Member and others in the House that part of acting is upholding Israel’s right to exist and its security, which includes opposing BDS, because part of being faithful to a two-state solution is upholding the rights of the Palestinian people and the Israeli people.
Question
I welcome the statement condemning the E1 settlement project in the west bank and the sanctions. With that in mind, we must think of the Palestinians who are directly impacted and prevented from accessing basic health care; ambulances are being stopped from taking acutely unwell patients to hospital and 20,000 children have died. What steps is my right hon. Friend taking with international partners to ensure that the aggressive Israeli settlements do not prevent Palestinians from accessing healthcare?
Minister reply
My hon. Friend is right: this is a heartbreaking emergency both in the west bank and in Gaza. Part of the advocacy and the work we now want to do, including at UNGA, is about moving forward on those questions and making a difference both in Gaza and in the west bank.
Question
I welcome the Foreign Secretary’s statement and the general shift in mood in the House. However, given that Israel as a whole—not just the illegal settlements—is on trial for genocide, should the Government not be taking all measures in their power to prevent complicity in genocide, including an immediate and comprehensive suspension of all arms transfers to Israel, an end to the sharing of all military intelligence, an end to all trade that materially supports the Israeli state or its war efforts, a reassessment of diplomatic ties and full compliance with the UK’s obligations under international law, including those as a state signatory to the genocide convention?
Minister reply
I will not answer every point that the hon. Member made. We have announced a comprehensive set of measures today. I say to him—I want to be careful in what I say—that it is very important that, as I said in my statement, our action against the occupied territories cannot be about the erasure of Israel. It is important that all of us in the House respect the role of Israel as a homeland for the Jewish people and protect its security as part of our commitment to a two-state solution.
Question
I, too, welcome these measures. We must see the Palestinian people protected and clear progress towards a two-state solution. I am proud of the Government’s stance. However, I must speak on behalf of my Jewish constituents, who have continually talked to me about the rise in antisemitism. Will the Foreign Secretary assure me that the Government will continue to work towards greater community cohesion in this country and ensure that all British Jews and all British Muslims are protected?
Minister reply
Absolutely; this must be a campaign for us all. It is about government, but truthfully it is also about us as a society—in fact, it is even more about us as a society, because the Government can do their bit, but it is about what each of us as individuals do to counter antisemitism.
Question
I thank the Foreign Secretary for his action today, demonstrating British leadership on a global stage; I hope he agrees that it is long overdue. Settlement expansion is a project driven by the Israeli state. Will he consider further action such as suspending the UK-Israel trade agreement?
Minister reply
We believe that trade with green-line Israel is important. We value it and we do not believe that it should be ended. It is so important in this House that we make the distinction between the occupied territories and green-line Israel.
Mohammad Yasin
Lab
Bedford
Question
I have been privileged to support Bedford Friends of Al-Walaja and to meet children who, despite the horror they have endured, are full of hopes and dreams for the future. Their village’s only school is now under threat of demolition by the Israeli authorities. I welcome the Government’s action to ban trade with illegal Israeli settlements. What intervention can the Foreign Secretary make to protect Al-Walaja co-educational school in the west bank and uphold those children’s rights to education under international law?
Minister reply
My hon. Friend raises a really important issue, and I or the Minister for the Middle East will take that up.
Question
I welcome the Foreign Secretary’s emphasis on international law, which is important in Gaza and the west bank, but also elsewhere. In Sudan, people who have committed atrocities involving babies and children at El Fasher’s hospital must also be held to account. Will my right hon. Friend reaffirm our Government’s absolute commitment to the independence and proper resourcing of the international court?
Minister reply
Yes, absolutely. My hon. Friend is completely right.
Question
The Foreign Secretary’s words and actions are strong, welcome and—my constituents would want me to say this—overdue. Does he agree that it is incumbent on all of us in this House and, to make my wider point, across the country to always be guided in the actions that we take by the need to do all that we can to achieve a two-state solution, which is the only way to bring a just and lasting peace to the lives of all Israeli and Palestinian citizens?
Minister reply
I 100% agree with my hon. Friend.
Question
I am glad to see the ban on trade with illegal settlements, for which I and many others have called for a long time. I also welcome the Foreign Secretary’s comments on the safety of British Jews, who are being violently targeted by racists simply for being Jewish. Will he join me in urging the Israeli Government to pull back from their expansionist actions and instead work with us and the international community towards a safe and secure Israel alongside a free, democratic Palestine?
Minister reply
I totally share what my hon. Friend said about this or a future Israeli Government. We want them to draw back; we want them to change course.
Question
I welcome the Foreign Secretary’s statement, which will come as a welcome addition to the debate. I was proud when this Government took the historic decision to recognise the state of Palestine. However, the very prospect of a single unified Palestinian state is, as we have heard, under enormous threat from the expansion of illegal settlements in the west bank. Having visited that area with Members from across the House earlier this year, the sheer scale of the E1 settlement makes it clear that Israel is determined that there should be no possibility of a contiguous Palestinian state. Does the Foreign Secretary agree that anyone—and I mean anyone—who believes in a just and lasting peace in the middle east must also oppose illegal settlement expansion and the violence that so often comes with it?
Minister reply
I absolutely concur with my hon. Friend. She speaks very eloquently about this.
Question
May I commend the Foreign Secretary for making what I think is the most powerful, principled and important speech by any British Minister for many years on the issue of Palestine? The people of Derry understand well that it is in the moments of greatest despair that those who are committed to hope come to the fore. Will he continue to travel in hope, to hold together the coalition he has built and to do everything he possibly can to bring peace to the people of Palestine and Israel?
Minister reply
My hon. Friend is absolutely right. This is just the beginning of what we must do in this endeavour, and there is so much more to do.
Question
My constituent, Jim Henderson, was killed in the World Central Kitchen attack on 1 April 2024. Two weeks ago, the Israeli authorities said there would be no further investigation. Our Government and the Canadian and Australian Governments condemn that decision. The commander who ordered the strike said he does not regret it. What more can we do to ensure there is accountability?
Minister reply
I send my deepest condolences to the family of my hon. Friend’s constituent. What happened was a horrifying event. Those were people trying to make a difference in a humanitarian way to the people of Gaza. I will endeavour to talk to her, along with the Minister for the Middle East, about whether we can do more on that issue and what that might be.
Question
I welcome the Secretary of State’s announcement and the moral courage the Government are showing to sanction trade with the occupied territories and condemn expanding illegal settlements. The Israeli state will not listen to the UK alone, and collaboration with global partners gives the strongest leverage. Will he say some more about how he is acting alongside international colleagues to demonstrate co-ordinated opposition to illegal settlements and human rights atrocities and reinforce international support for the two-state solution?
Minister reply
My hon. Friend makes an important point. It is the coalition of countries that we have, as well as our actions, that gives us hope that we can actually make a difference on this issue, both substantively in relation to sanctions and on all of the humanitarian issues that so many Members have raised.
Question
I welcome my right hon. Friend’s statement. Violence and intimidation carried out by settler extremists and the expansion of settlements mean that there cannot be a two-state solution. Yet illegal settlements and outposts targeting Palestinian civilians would not happen without the collusion of the Israeli army. Will my right hon. Friend please confirm that he is making representations at the highest level to say that collusion with extremist settlers must stop?
Minister reply
Absolutely. I say this with some sorrow: it has been obvious that there has been collusion for a long time and the collusion has been allowed to continue. That is the view of former Israeli Prime Ministers and, frankly, former Israeli generals who have spoken out on the issue. I continue to urge the Government of Israel to deal with that.
Question
It is 29 years this week since I first visited Israel and the west bank, and I have been a supporter of peace ever since. May I start by putting on the record my tribute to all the victims, from all sides, who have suffered during this period, not least those who suffered at the hands of Hamas and the 20,000 children who have perished in Gaza? Although self-defence is important, it is not a green light to ethnic cleansing or to illegal occupation. We need international law, as was set out by the Foreign Secretary. I welcome the statement and the fact that he is joined on the Front Bench by my hon. Friend the Member for Luton North (Sarah Owen), who is a great campaigner on this issue. While international law is threatened by many actors around the world, what more can we do to support not just justice but the institutions of international justice?
Minister reply
I, too, pay tribute to my hon. Friend the Member for Luton North (Sarah Owen). I say more widely that my hon. Friend the Member for Peterborough (Andrew Pakes) is right: we need to work with our international partners—at this time of all times—to uphold international law in Gaza, in the west bank and elsewhere.
Question
I am a strong supporter of the right of the state of Israel to exist in security and prosperity and of the state of Palestine to exist in security and prosperity. Does my right hon. Friend agree that to achieve that, it is essential that the very welcome measures he has outlined take place at pace? We can demonstrate that the state of Israel, under the current Israeli Government, does not get to determine the destiny of the west bank and, for that matter, Gaza.
Minister reply
My hon. Friend is absolutely right. I say to Members of the House that while I am critical of the current Israeli Government, this occupation has become entrenched over a long period. We have to work to unwind it and find ways in which we can get back to a two-state solution, and we have to act urgently.
Question
I thank the Foreign Secretary for his moral leadership today. Since I came into this House, hundreds of Gloucester residents have told me that the Government could and should be doing more in the light of the atrocities in Gaza and the west bank. That is a point I have made in this House and to Ministers directly, and I would like to thank my right hon. Friend for acknowledging those concerns today and for going further. Does he agree that this shows that the Government are not just going to show warm words in the light of these atrocities, and that they are going to take action to uphold the values that we hold dear?
Minister reply
My hon. friend raises a really important point, which is that this issue has mobilised ordinary British people right across our country. It is really important to understand that. The immorality of what is happening has stirred the conscience of millions of people across our country, and it is right that we act.
Question
Palestinians in the west bank have told the world of being held at gunpoint, of blockades, and of searchlights and lasers being shone into their homes and at their livestock. Given that the integrity of the E1 zone is essential for a two-state solution, does the Foreign Secretary agree that the international community should do whatever it can to prevent settler occupation, and that settlements constructed there should be dismantled as part of the peaceful future that we all want to see?
Minister reply
Yes, my hon. Friend is absolutely right about this. E1 crossed a long-standing red line for the international community, which is why we saw such an outpouring from our allies. He is absolutely right about the urgency of acting.
Question
I congratulate the Foreign Secretary on his statement and the manner in which it was delivered. I want to ask about international collaboration and how the allegations of war crimes can be addressed and compiled so that those responsible can eventually be brought to justice. I am thinking not only of the situation in Gaza and the west bank, but of the actions in southern Lebanon. Can the Foreign Secretary illuminate me on the plans to ensure that the allegations of the alleged crimes are properly compiled?
Minister reply
This is something that we work on with the courts, and the most important thing is upholding the role of both the ICC and the ICJ in these processes. They are incredibly important institutions, in the view of the British Government.
Question
During the debate in this House on 9 July, I and other Members raised our concerns about charities working in the illegal Israeli settlements and, in particular, about the use of taxpayers’ money through gift aid contributions to those charities. As a result, I received a response from the Charity Commission for England and Wales sharing those concerns about the potential impact, including on public trust and confidence in the charity sector, of charities being seen to actively assist in the development or expansion of illegal settlements in Palestine. What more will the Foreign Secretary do, in the light of today’s statement, to ensure that gift aid is not given to organisations linked to Israeli settlements?
Minister reply
I will undertake to look at that issue. We are very clear that we do not want to see illegal settlement expansion, so I promise to look at this. I want to take this opportunity to thank all Members of this House for their questions, and I reiterate my undertaking to work with Members across Parliament as we take forward these issues.
Shadow Comment
Thomas Tugendhat
Shadow Comment
The Shadow Foreign Secretary agreed with the Foreign Secretary on several issues, including the illegality of settlements and the atrocities committed by Hamas. However, he criticised the Government's policy of recognising the state of Palestine and sanctioning Israeli Ministers, arguing that it goes against international laws and principles. He warned that the sanctions would harm innocent Palestinians and Israelis and could risk sectarian division in the UK and a rise in antisemitic violence. He questioned the practicality and impact of the sanctions and the coherence of the policy, and asked for detailed instructions to ensure that patients in the UK will still receive essential drugs produced in Israel. He criticised the Government's lack of coordination with international partners and warned of the potential negative impact on security partnerships with Israel and the US. He expressed his commitment to the right of Palestinians and Israelis to live in dignity and peace but rejected the performative politics and lack of wide support for the sanctions.
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