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Israel and Palestine
08 September 2026
Lead MP
Ed Miliband
Debate Type
Ministerial Statement
Tags
Community SecurityReligion & 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
The Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband made a statement on Israel and Palestine, addressing the recent violence and ongoing issues in the region. He emphasised the UK's strong support for Israel's right to exist and the need to counter rising antisemitism in the UK. Miliband condemned the actions of Hamas and the threats posed by Iran, announcing sanctions against Lebanese Hezbollah's financing arm and re-imposing economic sanctions on Iran. He also highlighted the ongoing challenges in the West Bank and Gaza, expressing concern over the expansion of illegal settlements and the impact of the conflict on the Palestinian population. Miliband announced a £250 million investment for community security and a ban on the import of goods from illegal settlements. He also called for a new approach to address the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and the destruction of the two-state solution, emphasising the UK's commitment to holding Israel accountable for its actions while maintaining support for its security and prosperity.
Thomas Tugendhat
Con
Tonbridge and Malling
Question
Tugendhat questioned the coherence of the sanctions policy and its potential impact on innocent Palestinians and Israelis. He also asked about the Government's assessment of the impact on domestic security and community cohesion, as well as the potential damage to security partnerships with Israel and the US. Tugendhat inquired about the instructions given to enforcement bodies to ensure that essential drugs continue to be available and the accreditation of diplomats to the Palestinian embassy if Hamas wins the elections.
Minister reply
The minister did not provide a direct answer to each specific question but emphasised the Government's commitment to addressing the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and holding Israel accountable for its actions. He also reaffirmed the UK's support for the two-state solution and the importance of tackling antisemitism in the UK.
Thomas Tugendhat
Con
Tonbridge and Malling
Question
The MP questioned the coherence of the policy, the coordination with international partners, the impact on domestic security and community cohesion, the effect on security partnerships with Israel and the US, the impact on medical supplies, and the accreditation of diplomats to the Palestinian embassy. He emphasised the importance of the two-state solution and criticised the Government's decision to act unilaterally without wide support.
Minister reply
The Foreign Secretary rejected the idea of making Israel a pariah state and emphasised the Government's commitment to trade with Green Line Israel while targeting the illegal occupation. He affirmed that the policy is coherent and will be implemented over six to nine months. He also stated that the sanctions will not affect medical supplies and assured that the UK will maintain its security partnerships. The minister highlighted the importance of listening to the voices of the Palestinian Prime Minister and Ambassador, who have been urging action for a long time.
Emily Thornberry
Lab
Islington South and Finsbury
Question
The MP congratulated the Foreign Secretary on taking a strong stance against illegal settlements and asked for a meeting with her committee to discuss the speedy implementation of the sanctions.
Minister reply
The Foreign Secretary thanked the MP for her support and expressed willingness to meet with her committee to discuss the implementation of the sanctions. He acknowledged the long-standing advocacy of Members in the House and outside for this issue.
Calum Miller
Lib Dem
Question
The MP strongly associates himself and his party with the Foreign Secretary’s stance on supporting the rights of the states of Israel and Palestine to exist, and the rights of British Jews to live free from anti-Jewish hatred. He raises concerns about recent violent scenes in Palestine, the accelerated annexation of the West Bank, and the ongoing humanitarian disaster in Gaza, questioning the effectiveness of today’s announcement and requesting more details on enforcement measures, arms export bans, and the extension of the global human rights regime. He also asks about the Foreign Secretary’s plans to support the International Court of Justice and to ensure free and fair elections in Palestine and Israel.
Minister reply
The minister thanks the MP for his support and acknowledges the importance of the work of the International Court of Justice. He confirms that the UK stopped providing direct parts to Israel’s F-35 programme in October 2024, and that the UK will continue to keep its responsibilities under review, including in relation to the F-35 programme. He also states that the UK is extending the global human rights regime to international law, allowing faster action against breaches of international humanitarian law. The minister agrees that Hamas must disarm and cannot be part of a future government in Gaza, and that the implementation of the 20-point plan needs to be accelerated.
Liam Byrne
Lab
Birmingham, Hodge Hill
Question
The MP welcomes the statement and asks the Foreign Secretary to confirm that he is taking on new legal powers to implement the full ban on goods, services, and investment, as reported by his Committee. He emphasises that action on both goods and services is necessary for the measures to be effective.
Minister reply
The minister confirms that there will be a new sanctions regime under the SAMLA regime that covers settlements in the occupied territories, providing the necessary powers to take action on goods and services. He also states that the impact on goods trade is relatively small, but that action on services is crucial to make a real difference to settlement expansion.
Edward Leigh
Con
Gainsborough
Question
The MP, a long-serving member of the Conservative Friends of Israel, expresses support for the Foreign Secretary’s actions, emphasising that they are about standing up for freedom, morality, and justice for all people. He questions whether the Israeli Government could differentiate between general trade and trade to illegal settlements and if this should affect the intelligence relationship between the UK and Israel.
Minister reply
The minister thanks the MP for his support and emphasises that there can be no security for the people of Israel without a two-state solution. He argues that the actions of the Israeli Government over the past few years have made Israel less secure, troubling all friends of Israel across the country and the world.
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 congratulated the Foreign Secretary and raised concerns about the blocking of dual-use goods in Gaza, questioning if this is compatible with international humanitarian law.
Minister reply
The minister acknowledged the importance of lifting restrictions on essential goods and services in Gaza and condemned the blocking of dual-use goods as a strategy that is deeply disturbing.
Question
The MP thanked the Foreign Secretary for taking active steps and asked if the minister would meet with doctors to discuss preventing the deliberate targeting of health workers in Gaza.
Minister reply
The minister agreed to meet with the doctors and others, particularly in the run up to UNGA, to discuss the issue.
Kit Malthouse
Con
North West Hampshire
Question
The MP welcomed the Foreign Secretary's steps but questioned the timing of the actions and asked if further steps would be taken if the deterrent did not work.
Minister reply
The minister stated that he wants to take action as quickly as possible but also emphasised the need to get it right to avoid hitting green-line Israel. He confirmed that the sanctions regime will make a substantive difference and that they would keep its scope under review.
Afzal Khan
Lab
Manchester, Gorton
Question
The MP welcomed the sanctions and asked about discussions with allies to encourage support for the International Criminal Court's judicial process.
Minister reply
The minister confirmed that the UK is a strong supporter of the ICC and its work, and that upholding the work of these courts is very important.
Brendan O'Hara
SNP
Argyll and Bute
Question
The MP welcomed the statement and asked if the sanctions were symbolic and if there could be further action if Israel presses ahead with illegal expansion.
Minister reply
The minister confirmed that the sanctions regime will make a substantive difference and that they would keep its scope under review for further action.
Question
The MP thanked the Foreign Secretary for showing that Britain can lead with a clear moral compass and asked if the ICC arrest warrants still stand.
Minister reply
The minister confirmed that the UK is a strong supporter of the ICC and its work, and that upholding international law is crucial for building strong alliances.
Mark Pritchard
Con
The Wrekin
Question
The MP welcomed the moral, legal and ethical thread in the Foreign Secretary's statement and asked for action to reconcile the timing of recognition of a Palestinian state.
Minister reply
The minister agreed that action is required to reconcile the positions and emphasised that Britain is not powerless when working with others.
Question
The MP welcomed the action on the sanctions, arms sales and justice and asked about the withholding of Palestinian tax revenues.
Minister reply
The minister confirmed that these issues are raised with Israeli counterparts and emphasised that releasing funds is crucial for the viability of the Palestinian Authority.
Question
The MP welcomed the statement and asked what specific action would be taken on British companies facilitating settlement destruction.
Minister reply
The minister acknowledged the issue and confirmed that the sanctions regime will be designed to prevent the construction, financing, and so on 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 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.
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 welcomed the statement but urged the Minister to speed up the implementation of sanctions, citing ongoing genocide and ethnic cleansing in Gaza.
Minister reply
The Minister thanked the MP for her words and confirmed that the implementation period of six to nine months is a tentative timeline, emphasising that the process will be expedited if possible.
Question
The MP inquired about the provision of protection and medical aid for unaccompanied children in Gaza and expressed concerns about the healthcare crisis there.
Minister reply
The Minister acknowledged the healthcare crisis and promised to work with other nations, such as Jordan, to address the situation and make a difference.
Jeremy Corbyn
Lab
Islington North
Question
The MP questioned the Minister on the specifics of military sanctions, calling for Israel to withdraw completely from Gaza and for an end to the sharing of intelligence and weapon manufacturing.
Minister reply
The Minister stated that both Israel and Hamas need to take steps towards peace, including Israel withdrawing from Gaza and Hamas disarming. He clarified that the UK is not aiding the occupation but has important security relationships with Israel.
Preet Kaur Gill
Lab
Birmingham, Edgbaston
Question
The MP asked about steps taken to ensure the new measures do not contribute to antisemitism and undermine the security of Jewish communities.
Minister reply
The Minister emphasised that no British Jew should be held responsible for the actions of the Israeli Government and called on all Members to help transmit this message to the public to address antisemitism.
Christine Jardine
Lib Dem
Edinburgh West
Question
The MP welcomed the Foreign Secretary's remarks and inquired about steps to allow UK banks and corporate institutions to audit their customer base for proper supply chain management.
Minister reply
The Minister stated that the sanctions regime will be carefully crafted to protect trade with green-line Israel and financial services within it, while addressing the audit concerns raised.
Yasmin Qureshi
Lab
Bolton South East
Question
The MP praised the Foreign Secretary for taking decisive action and asked if the Government would retreat from this decision due to pressure from Washington or Tel Aviv.
Minister reply
The Minister confirmed that the Government will proceed with the planned sanctions, stating that it is in the national interest and based on Britain's values.
Question
The MP argued that the sanctions would embolden antisemitism, harm the relationship with the United States, and lead to tit-for-tat sanctions from Israel.
Minister reply
The Minister criticised the MP's statement as irresponsible and reiterated the Government's commitment to protecting British Jewish communities while taking decisive action.
Debbie Abrahams
Lab
Oldham East and Saddleworth
Question
The MP thanked the Minister for his statement and asked for details on the next steps for the SAMLA statutory instrument.
Minister reply
The Minister confirmed that the statutory instrument will be proceeded with and highlighted the importance of addressing everyday antisemitism faced by British Jews.
Andrew George
Lib Dem
St Ives
Question
The MP welcomed the Foreign Secretary's remarks and asked for further details on sanctions to be imposed on British banks and citizens complicit in settlement activities.
Minister reply
The Minister stated that the sanctions regime will target companies involved in financing, construction, and infrastructure of settlement expansion, without naming specific entities in advance.
Tulip Siddiq
Lab
Hampstead and Kilburn
Question
Tulip Siddiq thanked the Foreign Secretary for raising the plight of British Jewish children and questioned whether any thought had been given to helping displaced Palestinian children ensure they do not lose access to schooling.
Minister reply
Ed Miliband acknowledged the importance of education and safety for Jewish children and stated that both issues would be taken forward.
Question
Zarah Sultana criticised the UK Government for their continued support of Israel, questioning the morality of arming a country committing genocide and failing to impose full sanctions.
Minister reply
Ed Miliband dismissed Sultana's statement as a travesty and highlighted the actions the Government had taken, including declaring the occupation unlawful and banning arms licences for the IDF in Gaza.
Stella Creasy
Lab
Walthamstow
Question
Stella Creasy thanked the Foreign Secretary for his commitment to a two-state solution and international law, and asked for reassurance that the UK would not bend to pressure and would consider a halt to the E1 development and settler violence.
Minister reply
Ed Miliband reassured Creasy that the UK would act in its national interest based on its values and would not bend to pressure.
Question
Vikki Slade expressed concern about the impact on trade, specifically asking if life-saving drugs made in Israel would be affected by the ban.
Minister reply
Ed Miliband assured Slade that life-saving drugs made in Israel would not be affected by the ban.
Question
Yuan Yang praised the Foreign Secretary for his principled stand and asked if he would continue to face threats and intimidation.
Minister reply
Ed Miliband thanked Yang for her support and acknowledged the challenges faced in accessing the West Bank.
Sammy Wilson
DUP
East Antrim
Question
Sammy Wilson questioned the motivations behind the sanctions and suggested they would punish Palestinians and lead to economic retaliation.
Minister reply
Ed Miliband rejected Wilson's claims and criticised him for speaking for the Palestinian people instead of their representatives.
Alex Sobel
Lab
Leeds North West
Question
Alex Sobel asked about the possibility of a visa-lite or visa-free regime for Gazan students wishing to study in UK universities.
Minister reply
Ed Miliband said the Government would continue to look at what could be done for Gazan students and emphasised the importance of adhering to international law.
Question
Danny Chambers asked if the Foreign Secretary would consider sanctioning Israeli Ministers who encourage or endorse violence against Palestinians.
Minister reply
Ed Miliband stated that sanctions had already been imposed on two Israeli Ministers and that the sanctions regime would be reviewed.
Clive Betts
Lab
Sheffield South East
Question
Clive Betts inquired about the Foreign Secretary's discussions with other countries implementing similar sanctions and questioned why it took them only two months to implement sanctions.
Minister reply
Ed Miliband said he would ask his Dutch colleague if they could do it more quickly, noting a slightly different regime.
Question
Shockat Adam quoted Omar El Akkad and asked what the Foreign Secretary would do to hold war criminals accountable.
Minister reply
Ed Miliband stated his belief in accountability for war crimes and emphasised the role of international courts.
Richard Burgon
Lab
Leeds East
Question
Richard Burgon urged the Foreign Secretary to continue resisting pressure not to make international law apply to Israel and to demand full implementation of the ICJ ruling.
Minister reply
Ed Miliband said the UK would be guided by international law and would continue to demand accountability.
Question
Freddie Van Mierlo asked about the Foreign Secretary's response to a petition from schoolchildren advocating for Palestinian children's right to education.
Minister reply
Ed Miliband said the Government would do everything possible to help Palestinian children, emphasising the importance of a two-state solution.
Question
Asked the Secretary of State for his statement and the UK’s existing intelligence and security partnership with Israel, specifically 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 we are not involved in the occupation or actions in Gaza and the west bank.
Question
Joined many hon. Members in thanking the Foreign Secretary for the statement and asked why the action has taken so long, and whether the Government will fully comply with their obligations under the ICJ advisory opinion.
Minister reply
We should have acted earlier, but it has taken the new Prime Minister to recognise the gravity of the situation. We concur with the ICJ’s conclusions and will abide by them.
Question
Thanked the Secretary of State for his statement and asked if the message will be heard by the people of Jayyous and those across Palestine who are under constant intimidation and fear.
Minister reply
The statement sends an important message of solidarity with those under settler terrorism and attempts at ethnic cleansing.
Question
Welcomed the Foreign Secretary’s statement and sanctions and asked how he can guarantee that the sanctions will work, particularly regarding Israeli companies exporting from the green-line area and occupied territories.
Minister reply
We will look at all arms licences to see if they contribute to the occupation, and part of the point of a sanctions regime is proper enforcement.
Andy McDonald
Lab
Middlesbrough
Question
Commended the Foreign Secretary for his statement and asked him to move with all pace on the regulations, and whether already granted licences for arms used in the occupation should be suspended.
Minister reply
All licences that materially contribute to the occupation will not be allowed, and we want to move speedily with these measures.
Question
Asked the Foreign Secretary to work with colleagues to forge stronger relationships between British Muslims and British Jews, preventing those who want to sow division.
Minister reply
I undertake to work with Members across the House on these questions and to respect Israel’s right to exist and its security.
Question
Welcomed the statement condemning the E1 settlement project and sanctions and asked what steps are being taken to ensure Palestinians can access healthcare.
Minister reply
We will advocate and work to make a difference both in Gaza and in the west bank.
Question
Asked if the Government should be taking all measures in their power to prevent complicity in genocide, including suspending arms transfers, ending military intelligence sharing, and ending trade that materially supports the Israeli state.
Minister reply
We have announced a comprehensive set of measures today, but it is important that our action against the occupied territories is not about the erasure of Israel.
Question
Asked the Foreign Secretary to assure him that the Government will continue to work towards greater community cohesion and ensure that all British Jews and Muslims are protected.
Minister reply
Absolutely, this must be a campaign for us all, and it is about government but also about us as a society.
Question
Asked if the Foreign Secretary will consider further action such as suspending the UK-Israel trade agreement.
Minister reply
We believe that trade with green-line Israel is important and we do not believe that it should be ended.
Mohammad Yasin
Lab
Bedford
Question
Asked if the Foreign Secretary can intervene to protect Al-Walaja co-educational school in the west bank and uphold the children’s rights to education under international law.
Minister reply
The Minister for the Middle East will take up the issue.
Question
Asked the Foreign Secretary to reaffirm the Government’s commitment to the independence and proper resourcing of the international court.
Minister reply
Absolutely, my hon. Friend is completely right.
Chris Kane
Lab
Bolton West
Question
The Foreign Secretary’s words and actions are strong, welcome and—I know 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
Lab
Bolton West
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.
Paisley and Renfrewshire North
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.
Colum Eastwood
SDLP
Belfast South
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
Lab
Bolton West
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
Lab
Bolton West
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.
Bolton West
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
Lab
Peterborough
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
Lab
Bolton West
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
Lab
Gloucester
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
Lab
Bolton West
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
Lab
Bolton West
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.
Bolton West
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, Thomas Tugendhat, agreed with the Foreign Secretary's statement on the illegality of settlements and the need to address the situation in Gaza. However, he criticised the Government's decision to recognise Palestine and sanction Israeli Ministers, arguing that these actions contradict the principles established since 1933. Tugendhat expressed concerns about the potential harm to innocent Palestinians and Israelis and the risks of sectarian division and a rise in antisemitic violence in the UK. He questioned the Government's decision to proceed with sanctions without waiting for the Israeli election results and asked about the coherence of the policy, the impact on domestic security, and the potential damage to security partnerships with Israel and the US. Tugendhat also inquired about the instructions given to enforcement bodies to ensure that essential drugs continue to be available and the accreditation of diplomats to the Palestinian embassy if Hamas wins the elections.
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