Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

International Humanitarian Law

Thursday 14 March 2024 · 9 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 1 Partly answered 7 Not answered 0

Key points

  • The Attorney General visited Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories between 14 and 16 February 2024.
  • The Attorney General met Israeli and Palestinian officials to discuss compliance with international humanitarian law.
  • The Attorney General committed to upholding international humanitarian law and raising concerns with Israel regarding military actions and settlements.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Jeff Smith Lab Manchester Withington
Foreign Affairs
Context

The question arises from the Attorney General's visit to Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories in February 2024.

Question

What discussions she had with her Israeli and Palestinian counterparts on compliance with international humanitarian law during her visit to the middle east in February 2024.

Answer from Victoria Prentis

I visited Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories between 14 and 16 February. In Israel, I met Israel's Attorney General, lawyers for the Israel Defence Forces, and the president of the Supreme Court. In the west bank, I met the Palestinian Attorney General and the Prime Minister.

Answered
Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Get updates like this by email
Q2 Rachael Maskell Labour (Co-op) York Central
Foreign Affairs
Context

The Attorney General met officials in Israel, given the ongoing conflict and suffering in Gaza.

Question

When the Attorney General met the officials that she referred to, did she clarify that under the genocide convention, the ICJ order must be adhered to fully, and did she give any indication that the UK will cease participating in arms sales to Israel until that happens?

Answer from Victoria Prentis

I know that the hon. Lady cares very deeply about this region—she and I have visited it together. I reassure her that my discussions with those I met, both in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories, were very frank, and I am confident that our messages were delivered clearly. I made clear the importance of international humanitarian law being respected, civilians being protected, and compliance with the Geneva conventions when it comes to detainees.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not provide indication about cessation of arms sales or adherence to genocide convention fully.

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Get updates like this by email
Q3 Rupa Huq Lab Ealing Central and Acton
Foreign Affairs
Context

The Minister of State had previously stated that the Government respect the ICJ's independence but did not think its ruling on plausible genocide was helpful.

Question

Given the forcible displacement taking place, the demolition of homes and structures, the near famine in Gaza, and the expansion of illegal settlements in the occupied west bank worsening daily, how does the Attorney General—who has seen all this stuff with her own eyes—propose to uphold international law before it is too late?

Answer from Victoria Prentis

The hon. Lady and I served on the Justice Committee together, and I know that she shares my deep feeling that we must do everything we can to make sure that international humanitarian law is respected in the region. The UK has repeatedly raised with Israel the need to limit operations to military targets, to protect health facilities, and to avoid harming civilians. The Prime Minister and the Foreign Secretary have repeatedly raised those matters with their counterparts.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not provide a specific proposal for upholding international law.

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Get updates like this by email
Q4 Andrew Slaughter Lab Hammersmith and Chiswick
Foreign Affairs
Context

The UK Government has not fully endorsed the ICJ process or the ICC investigation.

Question

Will the Attorney General recommit to both those processes?

Answer from Victoria Prentis

The hon. Gentleman has long campaigned on these issues, so I know that he feels particularly passionately about the region as well. I am absolutely happy to commit this Government once again to upholding, where ever we can, international humanitarian law. Across this House, there is a great deal of consensus: we want the fighting to stop now. We are calling for an immediate pause to get aid in and the hostages out, and then to progress to a permanent ceasefire.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not provide specific recommitment to processes.

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Get updates like this by email
Q5 Stephen Morgan Lab Portsmouth South
Foreign Affairs
Context

The Netanyahu Government have failed to comply with the ICJ ruling, and there is a need for action.

Question

Will the Attorney General today call on Israel to take the steps it was ordered to take by the Court?

Answer from Victoria Prentis

We do not feel that that case was particularly helpful at this moment in the negotiations. We absolutely respect the ICJ—I have appeared there myself—and we of course understand that the interim measures order is binding on the parties. As I said to the hon. Member for Hammersmith (Andy Slaughter), elements of that order are extremely sensible, and we wholeheartedly respect them. We call, as the ICJ has done, for aid to go in and the hostages to come out immediately.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not provide a direct answer on calling Israel to comply with the order.

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Get updates like this by email
Q6 Jeff Smith Lab Manchester Withington
Foreign Affairs
Context

The Attorney General recently visited the region and saw actions of settlers against Bedouin communities.

Question

Based on her recent visit, does she think that there is a need to go further and sanction those extremist Israeli politicians who are encouraging the violent and illegal expansion of settlements?

Answer from Victoria Prentis

When I visited the region with the hon. Member for York Central (Rachael Maskell) many years ago, we saw some of the actions of settlers in the occupied territories. So far as I was able to, I reprised that visit when I went to the region most recently, and I was surprised at the difference in the level of violence used. I was able to visit a Bedouin village and talk to those who feel that at a very difficult time for the farming community, during lambing, they were being pushed off their land. I listened very carefully to what the hon. Gentleman said, and I reassure him that the Government continue to keep this issue under review.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not provide a clear stance on further sanctions.

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Get updates like this by email
Q7 Bob Neill Con
Foreign Affairs
Context

The question arises from the Attorney General's comments on the conflict and the importance of respecting legal definitions to avoid misinterpretation.

Question

I welcome the Attorney General's comments. I think every one of us shares the desire for the fighting to stop, and respect for the International Court of Justice. However, does she agree that it is important to be careful when we use legal terms in broader political debate? For example, the test of plausibility in the jurisprudence of the International Court of Justice is essentially about the admissibility of a claim, rather than its ultimate merits.

Answer from Victoria Prentis

As ever, the Chairman of the Select Committee makes a very important point and may I take this opportunity to congratulate him from the Dispatch Box on becoming an honorary KC? Words really matter; there will shortly be a statement to the House about that, and about the meaning of the term “extremism.” It is very important that we all choose our words carefully, particularly when it comes to this long-running and difficult conflict.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The Attorney General did not directly address whether she agrees on being careful with legal terms in political debates.

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Get updates like this by email
Q8 Bill Cash Con
Foreign Affairs
Context

The question arises from the need to clarify when international law is overridden by clear words in an Act of Parliament, particularly concerning Palestine and Israel's compliance with international law.

Question

On the issue of international conventions, treaties and international law, including international humanitarian law and the international refugee convention, will the Attorney General place in the Library over the weekend a legal statement on the circumstances in which international law is trumped by clear and unambiguous words in an Act of Parliament? Will she include in that statement the necessary citations from the Supreme Court and the House of Lords?

Answer from Victoria Prentis

My hon. Friend is a great and long-standing Member of this House, and is able to ask questions the answers to which might not automatically be obvious. We are talking here about Palestinian and Israeli counterparts being in compliance with international law, but I am of course delighted to say again that this Government are committed to international law—we have said that repeatedly from the Dispatch Box—and I do not see any need to lay a statement such as he suggests.

Not addressed: The Attorney General did not address placing a legal statement in the Library, instead reaffirming commitment to international law without providing specifics.

How: Reaffirms General Commitment, Does Not See Need For Specific Document

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Get updates like this by email
Q9 Neil Hudson Con Epping Forest
Foreign Affairs
Context

The question arises from the Foreign Secretary's affirmation in the House of Lords about Israel's right to self-defense and duty to follow international humanitarian law.

Question

This week, in the other place, the Foreign Secretary said on the tragic conflict in the middle east: 'You have to obey the rules and obey the law'. That is an important affirmation from this Government that Israel both has a right to self-defence and very much has a duty to obey international humanitarian law. Can the Attorney General reaffirm that the Government will continue to stress both that right and that duty in this conflict, which we all want to end as soon as possible?

Answer from Victoria Prentis

My hon. Friend makes an excellent point, and I would not like any Member of this House to be in any doubt: we all, across this House, want the fighting to stop now. We are calling for an immediate pause to get aid in and hostages out, then progress to a permanent ceasefire. We need five things to happen: release of hostages; formation of a new Palestinian Government; Hamas's capacity to launch attacks stopped; Hamas no longer in charge of Gaza; credible pathway to two-state solution.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The Attorney General did not directly reaffirm the specific rights and duties mentioned but instead outlined broader objectives for ending the conflict.

How: Outlines General Goals Without Addressing Specific Rights

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Get updates like this by email