Israel and Palestine

Thomas Tugendhat Con

Tonbridge and Malling

Question

The MP questioned the practicality and impact of the announced sanctions, the coherence of the policy, the impact on domestic security and community cohesion, the effect on security partnerships with Israel and the US, and the provision of medicines to patients. He also asked about the accreditation of diplomats to the Palestinian embassy if Hamas wins the elections.

Minister reply

The Minister for Intergovernmental Relations and European Relations responded by stating that the sanctions regime would target illegal settlements and settlement expansion, not Israel. He emphasised the support from the international community and the measures to ensure that innocent Palestinians and Israelis will not suffer. He also mentioned that the UK would continue to support important and valued trade with green-line Israel and would refuse licence applications for arms and other exports that materially contribute to the occupation.

Thomas Tugendhat Con

Tonbridge and Malling

Question

The MP questioned the coherence of the sanctions policy, the coordination with international partners, the impact on domestic security and community cohesion, the security partnerships with Israel and the US, the impact on medical supplies, and the accreditation of diplomats to the Palestinian embassy if Hamas wins the elections. He highlighted the growing antisemitism and violence against Jewish targets in the UK and argued that the government's policy will damage the interests of innocent Palestinians, Israelis, and the British people.

Minister reply

The Foreign Secretary rejected the idea of making Israel a pariah state and clarified that the sanctions will not affect trade with Green Line Israel. He affirmed that the policy is coherent and will target settlements in the occupied territories, ensuring it does not impact green-line Israel. He also highlighted the wide international coalition assembled to act on this issue and stressed the importance of community cohesion while taking action against the occupation. The minister assured that medical supplies and security partnerships would be protected and emphasised Britain's influence and reach in taking a strong stance against injustice.

Emily Thornberry Lab

Islington South and Finsbury

Question

The MP congratulated the Foreign Secretary on taking a strong stance against illegal settlements and called for a meeting with the Foreign Affairs Committee to discuss the speedy implementation of the sanctions.

Minister reply

The Foreign Secretary thanked the MP for her words and offered to meet with her and her Committee to discuss the speedy implementation of the sanctions.

Calum Miller Liberal Democrats

Greenock and Inverclyde

Question

The hon. Member for Greenock and Inverclyde (Calum Miller) thanked the Foreign Secretary for his statement and expressed strong support for the measures announced. He welcomed the Foreign Secretary’s recognition of the ICJ's opinion that the occupation is unlawful, and called for the Government to provide resources to allow the ICJ to complete its work. He also questioned the enforcement measures and asked if the ban on arms exports would apply to all arms exports, including F-35 parts. He further asked the Foreign Secretary to confirm that he will insist on free, fair, and open elections in Palestine and work towards the disarmament of Hamas.

Minister reply

The hon. Member received a detailed response from the Foreign Secretary, confirming that the UK fully supports the ICJ's work and agrees with its conclusions on the unlawfulness of the occupation. The Foreign Secretary also clarified that the ban on arms exports includes indirect parts to the global F-35 programme. He committed to working with international partners to ensure free and fair elections in Palestine and to disarm Hamas.

Liam Byrne Lab

Birmingham, Hodge Hill

Question

The right hon. Member for Birmingham, Hodge Hill (Liam Byrne) welcomed the statement and confirmed that the Foreign Secretary lacks legal power to fully implement the proposed ban on goods, services, and investment. He asked if new legal powers are being taken to implement the full ban.

Minister reply

The Foreign Secretary confirmed that a new sanctions regime under the SAMLA regime will be implemented, covering both goods and services, which will give the powers necessary for the full ban. He emphasised the importance of action on both goods and services to make a real difference to settlement expansion.

Edward Leigh Con

Gainsborough

Question

The hon. Member for Gainsborough (Edward Leigh) expressed his support for the Foreign Secretary's actions, highlighting the need for differentiation between general trade and trade to illegal settlements. He questioned why this should affect the intelligence relationship between the UK and Israel, and reaffirmed his support for the actions being taken.

Minister reply

The Foreign Secretary thanked the hon. Member and reiterated his deep friendship with Israel, emphasising that actions that undermine the two-state solution make Israel less secure, and that standing up for morality and justice is necessary for the security of the people of Israel.

Sarah Champion Lab

Rotherham

Question

The MP welcomed the statement and asked if the Foreign Secretary had considered moving a motion at the UN Security Council to protect Palestinian rights and if he was doing anything to support the Palestinian Authority to govern effectively and allow journalists and politicians to enter Gaza.

Minister reply

The minister acknowledged the MP's points and said that the UK would seek to address these issues through events at the United Nations, including a conference with Jordan and other upcoming events. He emphasised the urgency and desperation of the situation in Gaza.

Julian Lewis Con

New Forest East

Question

The MP questioned whether the action would affect the policy of the Netanyahu Government and if the minister had any contact with the Israeli Opposition before coming to this conclusion.

Minister reply

The minister stated that the UK talks with all partners in Israel and that the decision was based on the urgency of the situation rather than waiting for the Israeli election results.

Naseem Shah Lab

Bradford West

Question

The MP supported the statement and asked if Britain needs to continue showing leadership to ensure a two-state solution and Palestinian freedom from occupation.

Minister reply

The minister agreed and praised the MP for her work on the issue, highlighting the importance of recognising those who have campaigned and helped in Gaza.

Oliver Dowden Con

Hertsmere

Question

The MP expressed concerns about the conduct of the current Israeli Government and the impact of the statement on the Jewish population.

Minister reply

The minister disagreed with the MP's concerns and emphasised the distinction between the Israeli people and the Israeli Government, stating that the UK cannot outsource its responsibilities.

Charlotte Nichols

Question

The MP thanked the Secretary of State and asked for assurances regarding the implementation of the statement, particularly for religious imports such as etrogim during the Jewish high holy days.

Minister reply

The minister assured that there will be suitable religious exemptions from the import ban and that the dialogue with the Jewish community is ongoing.

Layla Moran Lib Dem

Oxford West and Abingdon

Question

The MP thanked the Secretary of State for the statement and expressed gratitude for the clarity on the illegality of the occupation.

Minister reply

The minister found the question moving and committed to working with Members across the House to ensure the UK's leadership in applying international law.

Sam Rushworth

Question

The MP thanked the Secretary of State and asked about the possibility of looking at universal jurisdiction to address support for illegal occupation by British citizens.

Minister reply

The minister said that the UK has sent a clear message about those involved in settlement activity and will look at the point raised by the MP.

Bob Blackman Con

Harrow East

Question

The MP questioned the risks of the statement affecting Israeli elections and the impact on the Arab view of Israel.

Minister reply

The minister rejected the premise of the question and stated that the path the Israeli Government has embarked upon is undermining Israel's security. He emphasised the need to differentiate between green-line Israel and the occupied territories.

Zubir Ahmed

Question

The MP thanked the Foreign Secretary and Prime Minister for their global leadership and asked about continued support for Gaza and medical aid for NHS colleagues who have worked there.

Minister reply

The minister thanked the MP and offered to work with Members in the run-up to the UN General Assembly to try to make a difference with the situation in Gaza.

Monica Harding

Question

May I congratulate the Foreign Secretary on his words? They were overdue, but they are welcome. More than 1.4 million people in Gaza are acutely food-insecure, yet the flow of essential goods faces significant restrictions, and Gaza is systematically denied the essential items it needs for long-term sustainability. People can buy an egg, but not a fertilised egg. They can bring in a potato, but not a potato tuber. What assessment have the Government made of whether the current interpretation of dual-use restrictions in Gaza is compatible with Israel’s obligations under international humanitarian law?

Minister reply

The hon. Lady raises such an important point. My hon. Friend the Minister for the Middle East was at the Al-Arish checkpoint, where he saw supposedly dual-use goods being blocked from going in. My answer is that the way that dual-use goods are being blocked is appalling. One’s only conclusion is that it is a strategy. It is deeply disturbing. I call on the Government of Israel to stop blocking the many entirely innocent dual-use goods that could make a difference to the people of Gaza.

Simon Opher

Question

I thank the Foreign Secretary for lifting the mood of the whole House. We are no longer bystanders wringing our hands; we are doing something active, and I thank him for that. I met Dr Nick Maynard this week. He is a surgeon in Gaza, and it is clear that the health professions have been deliberately targeted, with more than 2,000 killed. There is even a new word for it: healthicide. Will the Foreign Secretary meet me and some doctors to discuss how we can prevent this happening?

Minister reply

My hon. Friend raises an important point, which is that the number of aid workers and health workers killed in Gaza is appalling and dreadful. My hon. Friend the Minister for the Middle East and I are happy to meet him and others—particularly in the run up to UNGA, but also beyond—because we need to try to make a difference.

Kit Malthouse Con

North West Hampshire

Question

I, too, applaud the Foreign Secretary for finally taking some assertive, confident steps to deter Israeli ambitions in the west bank, but I am perplexed as to why he is waiting nine months. The diggers may well have started in E1 by then. So, first, can he just explain in a little more detail why he is waiting so long? He has got a majority; let us get on with it. Secondly, has the Foreign Secretary made it clear to the Israeli Government that if this deterrent does not work, he is willing to take further steps and this is not the end of the story? Finally, as part of the accountability that he has talked about, can we please have a UK-led investigation into the murder of our own citizens who worked for the World Central Kitchen? The Israeli Government have declined to conduct a criminal investigation, and officers of the IDF who were involved in that operation have been out in the media boasting that they would do it again.

Minister reply

The right hon. Gentleman has an honourable record on this issue. I will quickly clip through his questions, knowing the constraints on time, Madam Speaker. I agree with him on the World Central Kitchen. It is appalling that the investigation has been closed down. When one hears what happened in that incident, it makes one’s blood run cold, frankly. In the end, it amounted to a cold-blooded killing, in my view. On international law in general, we need to uphold international law, and we say that to all our partners. On timing, let me just say to the right hon. Gentleman that I want to do this as quickly as possible. We have to get it right for some of the reasons that have been discussed in this House—whether that is religious exemptions or making sure that we do not hit green-line Israel—but we want to do it as quickly as possible. If we can do it quicker, we will. I look forward to cross-party discussions on these questions. The other thing I would say to him is that our extension of the global human rights sanctions for international humanitarian law breaches will allow us to act more quickly, including on some of the things that could be captured in goods and services action.

Afzal Khan Lab

Manchester, Gorton

Question

The Foreign Secretary and the new Prime Minister have shown leadership and moral courage by introducing these sanctions. I strongly welcome the Foreign Secretary’s support for the International Criminal Court’s case on genocide in Gaza. What discussions will he have with allies to encourage more countries to support the ICJ’s judicial process to bring about justice for Palestine?

Minister reply

We are strong supporters of the ICJ and the work it does on this question and a whole range of others. To bring together his question and the question from the right hon. Member for Orkney and Shetland (Mr Carmichael), it is very important that we uphold the work of these courts.

Brendan O'Hara SNP

Argyll and Bute

Question

We genuinely welcome this statement. The Foreign Secretary has hinted at this, but let me be clear: it is somewhere between heartbreaking and criminal that it has taken three years and 70,000 Palestinian deaths for the UK Government to finally arrive at this position. Already, however, we are hearing that elements within the FCDO are briefing that these sanctions are largely symbolic. Will the Foreign Secretary utterly refute that? Will he confirm that these sanctions are not fixed and that there can and will be further action, should Israel press ahead with this illegal expansion programme?

Minister reply

I gently say to the hon. Gentleman that under the previous Prime Minister this Government recognised the state of Palestine. That was a major thing that we did. I praise my predecessors for that, and we also took action on arms licences. I do not completely accept the picture he gives. I do agree though, and the Prime Minister has said this, that we need to do more. That is what we have done today. I think the sanctions regime will make a substantive difference, and that is absolutely our intention. He is right that once we bring in the sanctions regime, we will, as always, keep its scope under review.

Abtisam Mohamed

Question

In July I led a debate on settlement expansion. I argued for international law to be respected and for the status quo to end. For far too long, we were told that a trade ban was too difficult—even impossible. For far too long, Palestinian lives have not carried the same weight as Israeli lives in British foreign policy. Palestinians deserve to have the exact same freedoms as Israelis. They deserve to live free from checkpoints, free from settler violence, free from occupation, and free from oppression. I thank the Foreign Secretary for his words, his action and, more importantly, the change of direction, and for showing that Britain can lead with a clear moral compass once again. Today is one of those rare moments when foreign policy can genuinely make a difference. Does the Foreign Secretary agree that international law can and must mean something once again? Will he confirm that the ICC arrest warrants still stand and that Britain will respect that policy?

Minister reply

I praise my hon. Friend for her work on this issue and for leading that debate. She is right that we are big supporters of the work of the ICC. More widely, she makes such an important point about upholding international law. It undermines our reputation globally when we fail to uphold international law. If we want to build strong alliances, we need to be consistent in our approach.

Mark Pritchard Con

The Wrekin

Question

Can I welcome the moral, legal and ethical thread running through the Foreign Secretary’s statement that the life of a Palestinian child is as precious as the life of an Israeli child? He is right to talk about consensus on the two-state solution. Where there is not consensus is on the timing of recognition of a Palestinian state. He will know that eight Members on the Opposition Benches joined the Saudis, the French and the British Government in recognising a Palestinian state last September. I am glad there is also consensus, including from our Front Bench today, that we want to protect the viability of a future two-state solution. Does the Foreign Secretary agree that it is action that is now required to reconcile those two positions, so that we have a viable state in the future?

Minister reply

I thank the right hon. Gentleman for his question and for the conversation we had on this issue the other night when we ran into each other, which I found incredibly useful and important. He is absolutely right. We cannot stand by; we have to act. This is partly about our psychology as a country. We are not powerless—particularly when we work with others.

Fleur Anderson

Question

I stood in a farm in the west bank and saw all the olive trees burnt and all the families in the village turfed out at knifepoint, so I really welcome this statement and the step-up of action on the settlements. I welcome the action on the sanctions, on arms sales and on justice. Will the Foreign Secretary elaborate a bit more on the crucial demand that Israel releases the revenues—the tax paid by Palestinian people to Israel—that are being withheld and cannot be spent on schools, hospitals and rebuilding? Can he say a bit more about what he will be doing on that?

Minister reply

Absolutely. These are issues that we raise with our Israeli counterparts. There are so many crises in Palestine, but this is a terrible crisis, which perhaps does not get the attention it deserves. The withholding of money, in its own way, is threatening the viability of the Palestinian Authority and the Palestinian state. Yes, they need to keep reforming, but Israel needs to release the funds.

Munira Wilson

Question

I warmly welcome the Foreign Secretary’s statement today. When I visited the west bank in 2022 with my hon. Friend the Member for Oxford West and Abingdon (Layla Moran), we met Palestinians whose homes and schools had been demolished to make way for settlements. It was utterly heartbreaking. The measures announced today are very welcome, albeit overdue. Will he tell the House what specific action he plans to take on British companies such as JCB, which facilitate that destruction—

Minister reply

The hon. Lady raises an important issue. I think she will know that as we design a sanctions regime, we do not comment on individual companies in advance, but I think my statement was very clear: we do not want to see the construction, financing and so on of settlement expansion. That is the way we will think about our sanctions regime.

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.

Paula Barker

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.

Liz Saville-Roberts PC

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.

Alex Ballinger

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.

Mark Sewards

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.

Susan Murray

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.

Jack Rankin

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 eloquently 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.

Damien Egan

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.

Ellie Chowns

Question

Welcomed the statement and recognised its significance in terms of recognition of the unlawfulness of the occupation. However, she urged the Foreign Secretary to speed up the implementation of sanctions, as the current timeline of six to nine months is still too long.

Minister reply

Acknowledged the hon. Member's concerns and committed to implementing sanctions as quickly as possible. He also highlighted the importance of ensuring that the sanctions make a difference and that the global human rights regime extension will allow for more swift action.

James Asser

Question

Welcomed the statement and the Foreign Secretary's work on Gaza. He highlighted the healthcare crisis in Gaza and the need for protection and medical aid for unaccompanied children in desperate need.

Minister reply

Commited to doing as much as possible to address the healthcare crisis in Gaza and promised to move things forward and make a difference. He also mentioned ongoing discussions with Jordan to address the healthcare crisis.

Jeremy Corbyn Lab

Islington North

Question

Welcomed the campaigners who have worked for justice and peace for the people of Palestine and called on Israel to withdraw from Gaza and disarm Hamas. He also called for an end to the sharing of surveillance information and the use of RAF facilities by Israel.

Minister reply

Agreed with the right hon. Member's call for Israel to withdraw from Gaza and Hamas to disarm. He also emphasised the importance of no British Jew being held responsible for the actions of the Israeli Government.

Preet Kaur Gill Lab

Birmingham, Edgbaston

Question

Opposed the E1 settlement plan and welcomed the Government's action against extremist settler violence. She raised concerns about the elevated threat to British Jews around Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur.

Minister reply

Acknowledged the hon. Friend's concerns and emphasised the Government's responsibility to protect Jewish people across Britain. He also highlighted the importance of no British Jew being held responsible for the actions of the Israeli Government.

Christine Jardine Lib Dem

Edinburgh West

Question

Welcomed the Foreign Secretary's remarks and the commitment to a two-state solution. She asked what steps would be taken to allow UK banks and corporate institutions to audit their own customer base to ensure proper supply chain management.

Minister reply

Commited to looking at all issues as part of the sanctions regime and protecting trade with green-line Israel and financial services within it. He also thanked the hon. Lady for her remarks.

Yasmin Qureshi Lab

Bolton South East

Question

Expressed pride in the Foreign Secretary's action and clarity that Israel's occupation of the west bank and Gaza is illegal under international law. He asked if the Government would retreat from this decision under pressure from Washington or Tel Aviv.

Minister reply

Commited to the Government's plans and clarified that they will not retreat from this decision under pressure from Washington or Tel Aviv.

Richard Tice

Question

Critiqued the sanctions as a grave mistake, arguing they would embolden antisemitism, endanger the relationship with the US and lead to tit-for-tat sanctions from Israel.

Minister reply

Responded that the hon. Gentleman's concerns were not responsible and that the Government would not retreat from their decision. He also emphasised that no British Jew is responsible for the policies of the Israeli Government.

Debbie Abrahams Lab

Oldham East and Saddleworth

Question

Congratulated the Foreign Secretary on his statement and highlighted the need to ensure that Jewish friends, colleagues and neighbours do not see this as collective punishment. She asked for details of the next steps around the SAMLA statutory instrument.

Minister reply

Commited to getting on with the process of making the statutory instrument happen. He also highlighted the importance of tackling antisemitism in schools and elsewhere.

Andrew George Lib Dem

St Ives

Question

Welcomed the Foreign Secretary's remarks about the need for a proper investigation into the killing of those serving in the World Central Kitchen, including Jim Henderson. He asked about sanctions on British banks and citizens who are complicit in what is going on in the west bank.

Minister reply

Commited to imposing sanctions on specific companies or entities involved in the financing, construction or infrastructure of settlement expansion. He also highlighted the importance of not naming specific companies in advance.

Tulip Siddiq Lab

Hampstead and Kilburn

Question

The MP thanked the Foreign Secretary for raising the plight of British Jewish children and asked about the measures to help displaced Palestinian children, ensuring they do not lose access to schooling. She also expressed pride in the Foreign Secretary’s mother.

Minister reply

The minister acknowledged the importance of education and safety for Jewish children, and committed to addressing both issues.

Zarah Sultana

Question

The MP criticised the Government for continuing arms sales to Israel despite describing it as an apartheid state committing genocide. She asked how many more Palestinian deaths would be required before the UK stops arming Israel completely.

Minister reply

The minister rejected the MP's statement as a 'complete travesty' and defended the Government's actions, stating they have banned arms licences for the IDF in Gaza and declared the occupation unlawful.

Stella Creasy Lab

Walthamstow

Question

The MP thanked the Foreign Secretary for his commitment to the two-state solution and questioned if the UK would bend to pressure from Israel and America if the ban goes ahead.

Minister reply

The minister reassured the House that the UK will act in its national interest based on its values and not bend to such pressure.

Vikki Slade

Question

The MP asked if life-saving drugs made in Israel are at threat due to the ban on trade with illegal settlements.

Minister reply

The minister confirmed that life-saving drugs made in Israel will not be affected by the ban.

Yuan Yang

Question

The MP praised the Foreign Secretary's actions and asked if he would continue to show moral courage.

Minister reply

The minister thanked the MP for her support and acknowledged the fear and scepticism caused by the denial of access to the west bank.

Sammy Wilson DUP

East Antrim

Question

The MP questioned whether the ban was politically motivated and would punish Palestinians, leading to economically damaging retaliation.

Minister reply

The minister rejected the MP's claims and urged him to meet the Palestinian ambassador in the UK and hear from him.

Alex Sobel Lab

Leeds North West

Question

The MP asked about a visa-lite or visa-free regime for Gazan students wishing to come to UK universities.

Minister reply

The minister committed to looking at what can be done for students from Gaza and emphasised the importance of following international law.

Danny Chambers

Question

The MP questioned whether the Foreign Secretary would consider sanctioning Israeli Ministers who encourage and endorse violence against Palestinians.

Minister reply

The minister confirmed that two Israeli Ministers have already been sanctioned and that the sanctions regime is under review.

Clive Betts Lab

Sheffield South East

Question

The MP inquired about the UK's discussions with allies regarding similar sanctions and why it was taking longer for the UK to implement them.

Minister reply

The minister acknowledged the difference in regimes and committed to asking the Dutch colleague about the possibility of doing it more quickly.

Shockat Adam

Question

The MP quoted an author and asked about the Foreign Secretary's plans to hold war criminals accountable.

Minister reply

The minister affirmed his belief in accountability for war crimes and the importance of international law.

Richard Burgon Lab

Leeds East

Question

The MP urged the Foreign Secretary to continue resisting pressure to not make international law apply to Israel and to push for full implementation of the ICJ ruling.

Minister reply

The minister committed to being guided by international law and accountability for war crimes.

Freddie Van Mierlo

Question

The MP asked the Foreign Secretary to respond to a petition from schoolchildren advocating for the right to education for Palestinian children.

Minister reply

The minister pledged to do everything possible to help Palestinian children in Gaza and the west bank and congratulated the children for their advocacy.

Apsana Begum

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.

Iqbal Mohamed

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.

Kirsteen Sullivan

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.

Caroline Voaden

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.

Ayoub Khan

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.

Sonia Kumar

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.

Adnan Hussain

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.

David Burton-Sampson

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.

Lorraine Beavers

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.

John Grady

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.

Chris Kane

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.

Lizzi Collinge

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.

Patricia Ferguson

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. 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.

Colum Eastwood

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.

Jayne Kirkham

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.

Cat Eccles

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.

Josh Fenton-Glynn

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.

Andrew Pakes

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.

John Slinger

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.

Alex McIntyre

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.

Josh Newbury

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.

Joe Morris

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.

Douglas McAllister

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.

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